Maui wildfires destroy dwelling of Damariscotta native
Emma Lazzari occurred to be on trip in Noosa, Australia, visiting a buddy when her residence in Lahaina, Hawaii, was destroyed by the wildfires that engulfed the western shores of Maui.
“I really feel grateful to be secure and OK,” Lazzari mentioned. “I’m slowly listening to from my associates that they’re unhurt.”
Lazzari grew up in Damariscotta and attended Lincoln Academy, graduating in 2011, then acquired a Bachelor of Science in athletic coaching from Ithaca Faculty in Ithaca, New York.
Along with her diploma in hand and being fed up with the chilly, she packed a backpack and moved to Hawaii, the place she has been for the final eight years.
“The neighborhood right here is much like the Midcoast,” Lazzari mentioned. “It’s a slower tempo of life, and [Lahaina] could also be a bit of larger, however the folks right here have your again, similar to in Maine.”
Since Aug. 8, the fires have killed greater than 100 folks. Pictures of the island of Maui had been exhausting for Lazzari to see, however in an odd means, she felt that seeing them was good for her.
“Trying on the photographs, there’s a whole lot of bizarre emotions,” Lazzari mentioned. “It’s exhausting nevertheless it solidifies in my head that issues are literally gone.”
The reason for the Maui wildfires, which began Aug. 8, is unknown, however they’ve turn into the state’s deadliest pure catastrophe, surpassing the report of 61 fatalities incurred from a tsunami that hit Hilo Bay in 1960.
Lazzari stays hopeful regardless of the numerous materials losses she’s incurred.
“It’s simply stuff,” she mentioned. “What’s vital is that I’m secure and listening to that my associates and neighborhood are OK.”
Lazzari is extending her keep in Noosa barely however is about to return to Lahaina inside per week and is raring to start serving to in any means she will.
“Mates have reached out, whose homes weren’t burned down, and supplied for me to remain,” she mentioned.
A buddy of Lazzari’s, Montana Blackman, has arrange a fundraiser on the platform GoFundMe to assist her get on her ft.
“[Lazzari] will return to no home, no garments, no automobile and a lack of mementos and recollections,” Blackman wrote on the GoFundMe web page. “If you understand her, you understand she’s resilient and is in pretty much as good of spirits as is feasible at a time like this.”
