Lava has been slowly snaking its way towards rural Hawaii communities for months, but it took an oozing stream of molten rock just 45 minutes to burn down an empty house.

People living near an active Hawaii lava flow have been warned to prepare for a possible evacuation in the next three to five days as molten rock oozed across a country road and edged closer to homes.

People living near an active Hawaii lava flow have been warned to prepare for a possible evacuation in the next three to five days as molten rock oozed across a country road and edged closer to homes.