Residents of a Hawaiian village threatened by lava have begun evacuating as the flow reaches 75yds (68m) from the first house in its path.
Two roads to Pahoa have been closed and a cemetery has already been overrun by the flow from the Kilauea volcano.
Kilauea has been erupting since 1983, but a new vent has recently threatened communities on the Big Island.
The town's residents will be allowed to watch the destruction of their homes, Hawaiian officials say.
The accommodation will "provide for a means of closure" Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira told the Associated Press news agency.
"You can only imagine the frustration as well as... despair they're going through."
Residents will also be allowed back to take photos and video for insurance purposes.
Many residents of the town of 800 have already left or made plans to do so, Mr Oliveira said.
The couple living in the house closest to the flow have evacuated but have been returning to gather belongings, he said.
The flow came to a standstill in September before flowing faster towards Pahoa "They are out of the property and awaiting the events to unfold."
The flow, now 55yds wide, advanced about 275yds between Sunday morning and Monday morning.
It has been moving at an average of five to 10yds an hour, but has done so fitfully, sometimes slowing down to two yards or speeding up to 20, depending on topography, said Janet Babb, a spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Kilauea volcano has continuously erupted since 1983, but a new lava vent has recently threatened communities on Hawaii's Big Island Decomposition of vegetation in the lava's path has also created methane explosions at the front of the flow, Ms Babb said.
"It's not a massive explosion," she said. "But it can dislodge rocks."
After the new vent opened in July, lava threatened a separate community before coming to a standstill in September.
Resident Imelda Raras said she and her husband were ready to go to a friend's home if need be.
"We are still praying," she told the Associated Press. "I hope our home will be spared."
Decomposing vegetation has created methane explosions at the front of the flow Hawaii residents evacuate lava flow
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