UPDATE (10 a.m.) – The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory posted this update just after 10 a.m. HST:

Fountains from Fissure 8 spatter cone continue to supply lava to the open channel with intermittent small, short-lived overflows. The spatter cone is now about 55 m (180 ft) tall at its highest point, and fountains rarely rise above that point. The crew on this morning’s overflight thought that the fountain and lava level in the upper channel were lower than on past mornings. North of Kapoho Crater, small overflows from the channel continued active and nearly reached the Beach Rd about 0.3 km (0.2 mi) north of Four Corners. Between Kapoho Crater and the coast, the northern margin of the flow field is still oozing pasty lava at several points in the area of Kapoho Ag and Beach Lots. Drone overflights in the early morning and a later morning helicopter overflight found a increase in lava flow rate at Beach Lots. Lava was entering the sea over a broad area this morning primarily on the northern side of the flow front. As shown by the July 02n thermal map of the flow field, the lava channel has crusted over about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) inland of the ocean entry; lava is oozing from the flow’s molten interior into the ocean along most of its broad front. Fissure 22 is sporadically spattering this morning; its flow was not incandescent overnight and possibly stalled.

(BIVN) – Hawaii County Civil Defense issued the following message on Thursday morning at 6 a.m.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Fissure 8 continues to be very active and is feeding a lava channel to the ocean at Kapoho. The flow is producing a broad ocean entry along the shoreline, and is also oozing fresh lava at Kapoho Beach Lots and a flow near the Four Corners area.

The following policies are issued.

• Due to the breakouts of lava near Four Corners and within Kapoho Beach Lots persons are reminded that these areas are closed to any access.
• Be aware that spill overs of the channel and other breakouts are possible on the active flow field, do not access the active flow field due to extreme hazard.

Disaster assistance is available island-wide to individuals and businesses in Hawaii County that have been affected by the Kilauea eruption.

• The Disaster Recovery Center is open daily from 8am to 8pm, and is located at the Keaau High School Gym. If you need a ride, buses will resume running between the two shelters and the Disaster Recovery Center between 7:30 am and 9:00 pm.
• For more resources to help you recover from this disaster, please visit the county website.

Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will host a community meeting at Cooper Center tonight at 6 p.m.