About half of the Boring Lava Field eruptions took place in what are today densely populated areas of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Though the formation of a small cinder cone vent might not extend far beyond its surroundings, depending on location, similar eruptions could lead to deposition of volcanic ash that could lead to serious infrastructural consequences, covering large areas. A larger eruption, like the ones that built Larch Mountain or Mount Sylvania, could extend for years to decades. It is unclear where exactly a future eruption might take place, but it would probably occur in the northern portion of the field.