Tacoma couple's home on Big Island destroyed by Kilauea Volcano

The Kilauea Volcano continues to claim more homes and that includes a dream home recently purchased by a Tacoma couple.

Thomas and Sherri Willemin are back at their Tacoma apartment after their house on Hawaii’s Big Island was swallowed up by lava.  Fissure #8, the most destructive one, claimed their house late on the night of May 27.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride from the very beginning,” Sherri told KIRO 7 on Wednesday.

The couple built their contracting business in Western Washington and in 2016 bought a dream home in Lava zone 1, the most at risk.  But they didn’t think this would happen in their lifetime.

“This neighborhood had been put in in 1974,” Thomas said.  “And it hadn’t had any experience with lava everyone said in over 1,000 years.”

On May 3, they were told to evacuate as Fissure #8 opened on their street.  They were able to go back twice to take items to storage.

“We loaded up our 5X5 unit with everything it would hold,” Thomas said.  “Mostly focusing on paperwork and things that were irreplaceable.”

For weeks they thought they’re home would be spared, but then last Sunday they got alerts from emergency management about Fissure #8.

“It broke free and sent a wall of lava down,” He said.  “Usually the lava you can walk beside it and it will move a foot in about an hour.  But this took out 10 homes in 10 minutes, so it was moving fast.”

That included their home, which was covered by insurance.  Now back at their Tacoma apartment Thomas can’t help but think about the volcano in plain view.

“I made a picture and said, 'Oh great, there’s Mount Rainier. It’s right there,'” Thomas said.  “And I was thinking the Lahar when it goes will supposedly come down the Puyallup River. We’re on the 8th floor here. So, I don’t know if that’ll help.”

KIRO 7 asked if the Kilauea Volcano has changed their level of concern over Mount Rainier.

“I know that nature has its way,” Sherri said.  “And I know that there’s a lot of people watching all these things, and if something goes strange on this one, we’re going to know fast. “

And in fact, they plan to return to the Big Island at the end of the month to look for a new house in Lava Zone 8, the second least risky zone.

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