Hawaii volcano raises concerns of eruptions along West Coast

By Nicholas K. Geranios Associated Press

Saturday, May 12, 2018 9:45 AM

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) The eruption of a Hawaii volcano in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" has experts warily eyeing volcanic peaks on America's West Coast that are also part of the geologically active region.

The West Coast is home to a chain of 13 volcanoes, from Washington's Mount Baker to California's Lassen Peak. They also include Mount St. Helens in Washington state. Its spectacular 1980 eruption killed dozens of people and sent volcanic ash across the country.

The snow-capped peaks of the Pacific Northwest's Cascade volcanoes are different from Hawaii's low-slung volcanoes. They erupt less often and they spew less lava. But they can produce huge clouds of choking ash and send deadly mudslides into rivers and streams.

Hawaii volcano raises concerns of eruptions along West Coast

In this May 7, 2018 photo, Mount Rainier is seen at dusk and framed by the Murray Morgan Bridge in downtown Tacoma, Wash. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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In this May 8, 2018 photo, a sign under a lahar warning siren is shown as a school bus drives near Orting Middle School in Orting, Wash. The siren would sound if nearby Mount Rainier erupts or triggers a lahar mud flow, which could devastate the low-lying community. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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In this May 8, 2018 photo, a volcano evacuation route sign directs traffic and pedestrians to an area of higher ground near Orting, Wash. should nearby Mount Rainier erupt or trigger a lahar mud flow. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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In this May 8, 2018 photo, a pedestrian walks past a lahar warning siren near Orting Middle School in Orting, Wash. The siren would sound if nearby Mount Rainier erupts or triggers a lahar mud flow, which could devastate the low-lying community. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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In this May 8, 2018 photo, a snow-covered Mount Rainier is seen through clouds behind a neighborhood in Puyallup, Wash. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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In this May 7, 2018 photo, Mount Rainier is seen at dusk behind the Murray Morgan Bridge in downtown Tacoma, Wash. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Rainier, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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FILE - In this March 9, 2005 file photo, Mount St. Helens emits a small, steady cloud of steam at dusk in Washington state. The 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including St. Helens, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)

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FILE - In this July 13, 2006 file photo, Peter Haley, a photographer with The News-Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., holds his camera as he stands on the crater rim of Mount St. Helens with Mount Adams in the background. The 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including St. Helens, and Adams, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)

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FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2018 file photo, Oregon's Mount Hood is seen from Timberline Lodge on the south side of the mountain. The 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has geologic experts along the West Coast warily eyeing the volcanic peaks in Washington, Oregon and California, including Hood, that are part of the Pacific Ocean's ring of fire. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, file)

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