MOUNT CARMEL - The "unfamiliar face" that escorted 89-year-old Maria Johnston from her home during a fire on Friday night in the borough no longer remains a mystery.
John Roddy, 54, of 21 West Avenue, Mount Carmel, three blocks away from where a fire took place on Market and Second streets, said he was bringing his daughter, Claire, 13, and her friends home from a youth group when he heard the sirens.
"I looked up and saw smoke, then I saw flames coming from the upstairs window," said Roddy. "I can't believe I ran in there."
Roddy first went into the home where the fire started, 45 N. Market St., and saw that nobody was home but the dog. After bringing the dog outside, he ran into the home next door and found Johnston completely unaware of the fire.
"There wasn't a trace of fire or smoke in the house, at first she didn't believe me," he said. "She didn't realize how serious it was until we got outside and saw flames shooting from the window."
Roddy said that Johnston remained calm the whole time, and even walked back into the kitchen to grab her cat. He said Johsnton told him not to panic, and that God had control of everything.
"She's such an incredible lady," said Roddy. "I learned a lot from her that night."
Johnston is staying with her daughter a few blocks away until the fire marshal tells her she can return. A state marshal was scheduled to come to the scene today.
"I've been blessed," said Johnston. "It looks like a disaster, but people don't see the good that came out of it. I've never seen so much love from people."
Roddy's wife, Nancy, was at her sister's house a few blocks away that night when she smelled smoke and prayed for the safety of those going into the home. She didn't find out until the next day that her brother was one of people she said a prayer for.
"It was all divine intervention," she said.
Roddy said that the only reason he identified himself was because his sister said that it would help with the on-going investigation into the fire.
"I didn't want any recognition, it wasn't anything incredible," he said. "It's just me, a regular guy looking out for a neighbor."
Roddy lived in Mount Carmel for 12 years after moving from Brooklyn.
"I don't consider myself a hero, I was just in the right place at the right time," he said. "If I was 10 minutes later, someone else would have done the same thing."
Although Roddy thought Johnston looked familiar during the night of the fire, it wasn't until a few days later that he realized how he knew her. Roddy owns a painting business and said that he just worked on her daughter's home about a week or two ago and Johsnton was there.
"God put all the right pieces in the right places," said Roddy.
After Johsnton learned the identity of the "unfamiliar face" that helped her escape from the fire, Roddy said that she told him "I might have some painting you could do."