2023-08-17 15:06:20
Swiss in Maui’s inferno: “Shock, just shock”
A catastrophic fire has brought immense destruction and suffering to Hawaii. Zurich emigrant Mike Jucker lives on Maui. In an interview, he talks regarding the inferno, life followingwards – and his hope for the future.
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On August 8, devastating forest fires largely destroyed several towns on the Hawaiian islands of Maui and the Big Island. Over 100 people lost their lives. Mike Jucker, who was born in Zurich, has lived on Maui, near the small town of Lahaina, for years. This was hit particularly hard by the flames. “There were a few dead people lying on the street, charred pets,” Jucker explains in an interview with blue News regarding his impressions when he returned to the city for the first time. Everyday life for the people on the island is still full of obstacles and difficulties.
“It’s hardcore, you don’t want to experience that,” says Mike Jucker. “They have to rebuild a whole city.”
Jucker talks regarding the devastating barrage of fire that literally rolled over Lahaina. More than 100 people lost their lives, the destruction on the two islands of Maui and Big Island is enormous.
Born in Zurich, he lives with his wife and their three children on Maui, near Lahaina. The 13,000-people town was hit particularly hard. Jucker owns a skate shop in Lahaina and works part-time in a hotel.
The amateur surfer emigrated around 25 years ago, initially traveling at random. “The dream of eternal summer” then led him to Hawaii. Jumping onto a surfboard was an obvious choice for the passionate snow and skateboarder.
The fire disaster on Maui dismayed the emigrant. Unfortunately, the island has experience with such fires, albeit on a smaller scale. “There are many bush fires here, and the infrastructure is in a desolate condition,” reports Jucker in an interview with blue News. “Telephone and power lines are simply routed over wooden poles.”
Föhn storm as a foreboding
He still remembers the devastating August 8th clearly. “It was a beautiful day with a crystal blue sky.” But suddenly a strong wind came up. “A real foehn storm at 80 to 90 km/h.” That made some people queasy. The bush grass in the outskirts of the small town caught fire.
Jucker and his wife stayed at their home regarding ten kilometers outside of town. They were out of power by then. Blackout.
«But I mightn’t help myself and went to the beach with the windfoil board in the followingnoon. Then I saw black smoke rising.” He knew that wasn’t a good sign. “Houses must have caught fire,” says Jucker. He therefore went to the elevated airport, from where he had a better view of the city.
He was stunned. And suspected evil: Many buildings in Lahaina are wooden buildings from the 1950s and 1960s. “So you know that if a house catches fire, the whole neighborhood will burn. And that’s how it happened.”
The Juckers went to bed that night feeling uneasy. The next morning a friend was at the door. ‘She said she spent the night in a parking lot. And asked if she might use our toilet.”
Desperation on Maui: Residents want to return to Lahaina
The Juckers immediately went to said parking lot. A large parking area in the village, located between shops. “Hundreds of people were gathered there, all of whom had to flee from the flames,” he recalls.
Of course, everyone suspected how bad things were in the city. The uncertainty also gnawed at Mike Jucker. At lunchtime he mightn’t help himself: he had to go see how his skater shop was doing.
With a friend, he drove into town along country lanes. Relief: the shop was still standing. The reason: “Fortunately, my business is in a district of concrete buildings.” But of course they also wanted to see how the houses of their friends and acquaintances were doing. And there was a completely different picture. “Lahaina is one disaster area. There were a few dead people lying on the street, charred pets,” reports Jucker. A shock. “That was too much, we had to drive out there once more.”
“It’s not as well planned here as it is in Switzerland.”
The fire brigade can’t do much with such strong winds, says the emigrant regarding the extinguishing work during the fire disaster. In addition, the emergency services were concentrated on other sources of fire, since Maui is considered relatively safe.
The organization of the emergency services took a few days, “it’s not as planned here as in Switzerland”. Regulating access to the city was initially quite chaotic – although there was only one real road and a kind of pass road. For a long time, only locals were allowed to drive in and out of the city. Only since today, Thursday, has it been fully released once more.
In any case, the conflagration turned life on the island upside down. He only has internet access sporadically, says Jucker, whom blue News only reached following several days. Communicating with the outside world is very difficult.
Burned-out cars and burned-down houses: There’s almost nothing left of this neighborhood in Lahaina.
Many people have lost all their belongings.
The cleanup will take a lot of time.
The hall of the historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission stand also fell victim to the flames.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (left) and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. inspect the damage in Lahaina.
A burned coconut tree can be seen in Lahaina.
The Zurich emigrant Mike Jucker also recorded the devastation on the island.
“Lahaina is one disaster area. There were a few dead people lying on the street, charred pets,” reports Jucker.
Due to the extreme wind force, the fire brigade might do little to stop the fire.
Traces of devastation stretch across Lahaina.
Mike Jucker would also like to make a contribution to the reconstruction. He has one for that fundraiser started.
Fire storm overwhelms Hawaii
Burned-out cars and burned-down houses: There’s almost nothing left of this neighborhood in Lahaina.
Many people have lost all their belongings.
The cleanup will take a lot of time.
The hall of the historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission stand also fell victim to the flames.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (left) and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. inspect the damage in Lahaina.
A burned coconut tree can be seen in Lahaina.
The Zurich emigrant Mike Jucker also recorded the devastation on the island.
“Lahaina is one disaster area. There were a few dead people lying on the street, charred pets,” reports Jucker.
Due to the extreme wind force, the fire brigade might do little to stop the fire.
Traces of devastation stretch across Lahaina.
Mike Jucker would also like to make a contribution to the reconstruction. He has one for that fundraiser started.
Everyday family life is also in a state of emergency. The public school, where the Juckers’ twins attend the 7th grade, advised that the children be sent to another school. Juckers are now homeschooling them once more. As in the pandemic. Thanks to scholarships and good grades, the daughter goes to a private school anyway.
With appeals for donations, an attempt is now being made to ensure that some other students are also allowed to go to this private school for a year. “There are a lot of people on Maui. This is the Züriberg to the power of two, »explains Jucker. He is therefore in good spirits that enough donations will be collected. “Because otherwise you were just unlucky as a parent.”
“We won’t make it without tourism”
The holiday paradise has been shaken to its foundations, the images of the flames go around the world. Jucker knows that reconstruction will take a long time. “And without tourism we won’t make it.” This industry is too important for the local population. The hotel complexes were also spared from the fires – “except that the employees lost their house over their heads”. The hotel where he works is now taking on the employees for the time being.
“This catastrophe is different from Covid, when there was still money from the state,” says Jucker. Tourists will soon have to bring money back to Maui. This is not only vital for the hotels, he also has to get his shop up and running once more.
Jucker believes that this can succeed: “I hope that the holiday guests will also be part of this reconstruction.”
Jucker would also like to make a contribution to the reconstruction. He has one for that fundraiser started. The money that comes in will go to “local families who are rebuilding their homes and lives.”
With his “Stand Up Magazine” Jucker will document the reconstruction: “To the last house.”
Collaboration: Jan-Niklas Jäger.
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