More Before and After in Paradise
Patrick Clewett and Cyndi Zimmerman-Clewett were among the last to escape from Paradise on November 8, 2018 –and ironically among the first to rebuild and return.
The couple lived in a brick house on Pine View Drive which is situated in a small valley. Even though the sky grew very dark as the fire swept through the Paradise ridge their position in the valley did not afford them a view of the flames. When they did see the glow of the...
more »More Before and After in Paradise
Patrick Clewett and Cyndi Zimmerman-Clewett were among the last to escape from Paradise on November 8, 2018 –and ironically among the first to rebuild and return.
The couple lived in a brick house on Pine View Drive which is situated in a small valley. Even though the sky grew very dark as the fire swept through the Paradise ridge their position in the valley did not afford them a view of the flames. When they did see the glow of the fire, the flames were only a few hundred yards away. The couple escaped in two trucks and a work trailer containing what they could quickly pack, consisting of tools, household items and an assortment of cats and dogs which included two Great Danes.
For the next twelve months the couple lived in a salvaged fifth wheel trailer near the small town of Los Molinos with their Great Danes.
On November 8, 2019, while Cyndi was attending the first anniversary remembrance of the fire, she received a call from Patrick saying their new home had cleared the inspections and they could move in. At the time she was viewing artist Jess Mercer’s phoenix sculpture consisting of thousands of keys of people who had lost their homes. She couldn’t hold back the tears. Cyndi and Patrick spent their first night in their new home on Lurena Lane exactly one year after they were forced to leave Paradise.
PHOTOS: Patrick and Cyndi at their brick home on Pine View Drive which was built by Patrick’s grandfather.
Metalworkers Patrick Clewett and Cyndi Zimmerman-Clewett unearthed dozens of their sheet metal sculptures from the ruins of their home including the bear. Aria, the smaller of their adult Great Danes takes center stage while Iggy lolls in back. The couple recently added Vincent, a rambunctious Great Dane puppy to the brood. At the time of the photo, Vincent was under house arrest.
Good Morning! Thank you so much for putting up with all of us and the chaos!
We spent our 1st night in our new home on November
« less
