A toddler could have plummeted to his death on Christmas Day at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano if not for his mother's quick reaction, officials said.

Molten rock began shooting from the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and propelled lava 295 feet (90 meters) into the air. The red liquid formed tall fountains and then spread across 650 acres (263 hectares). The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory estimated the lava was about 1 yard (1 meter) thick.

The fountaining that drew thousands of views on the USGS YouTube page died down Christmas morning, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, as Kilaueaʻs latest eruption pauses once again. The lava has been draining since the fountaining slowed and could be seen on the YouTube page.