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Missing girl found with her mother

An 11-year-old girl who was reported missing in August was found Wednesday after she went to a family member's house in 'Ewa Beach. Elena Carvalho was last seen Aug. 26 when she left a foster home. Police believed she was with her biological mother. Police arrested the 28-year-old mother Friday on an outstanding family court warrant.

Kona residence destroyed by fire

KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — A house fire caused by a cigarette yesterday destroyed a home on Kaiminani Drive in Kona. A woman, 57, was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Police closed a section of Kaiminani Drive as firefighters fought the 11 a.m. blaze. Damage to the home and contents was estimated at $300,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Lava fires close crater road

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park officials closed the Chain of Craters Road at noon yesterday after high winds whipped up lava-ignited wildfires and grounded helicopters that had been dumping water on brush fires in the area.

Winds gusting to 50 mph helped generate thick smoke that obscured the road and made driving dangerous, park officials said.

The road closure cut off lava viewing at the end of Chain of Craters Road, and all East Rift hiking trails were closed. Mauna Loa Road at Kipuka Ki also was closed due to the fire danger.

A 10-person team of federal firefighters mobilized on the Mainland is expected to arrive shortly to help contain the fires, and a new shift rotation of 40 firefighters is expected from the Mainland tomorrow.

Correction: Elena Carvalho, the 11-year-old girl who was reported missing in August, was found Feb. 5 after she went to a family member's house in 'Ewa Beach. Her mother, 28, was arrested Friday on an outstanding family court warrant. A previous article in these briefs included incorrect information.