A stream of lava from the Kilauea volcano slithered across fields on Tuesday, burning grass and other vegetation as it closed in on a village on Hawaii's Big Island, with the nearest home only 70 yards (64 meters) away.
Residents in the path of the slow-moving lava flow were told to be ready to evacuate, and education officials said they would close an elementary school endangered by the lava on Wednesday and temporarily shutter four more schools on Thursday.
The lava has been advancing at an average but inconsistent speed of 5 to 10 yards per hour.