Media Contact: Aileen Blomdal
(669) 209-5266 | NCCRPublicAffairs@redcross.org

News Summary:

• A Bay Area woman recalls surviving a devastating home fire in 1957 and the Red Cross volunteer who helped her afterward.
• During Fire Prevention Week, the Red Cross encourages families to take steps to prevent home fires and create home escape plans.

SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 05, 2026 — Nearly 70 years after escaping a devastating home fire in San Francisco, Carol Pohl still remembers the American Red Cross volunteer who comforted her in the aftermath and inspired a lifetime of service to others. During Fire Prevention Week, the American Red Cross is sharing Carol's story to highlight both the lasting impact of compassionate disaster response and the importance of home fire preparedness.

Carol was just 15 years old when she awoke at 2 a.m. to smoke and flames engulfing her family's apartment building on Fell Street. Trapped by fire at her bedroom door, she escaped through a window and climbed down a burning fire escape. Standing outside barefoot and shaken, she watched from across the street as the fire destroyed her home.

In the early morning hours, an American Red Cross volunteer arrived at the scene to help those affected by the fire.

"The volunteer showed up at dawn when it was still freezing cold, just as the sun was coming up," Carol recalled. "She came to me, wrapped me in a blanket and gave me warm clothing."

Carol says she never forgot the compassion that volunteer showed her during one of the most difficult moments of her life. The volunteer provided her with a Pendleton sweater that Carol wore throughout high school as a reminder of the kindness she received.

Inspired by that experience, Carol spent 37 years teaching middle school students in San Francisco and has continued supporting causes that help people in need.

"None of the stuff you have matters. The people do," said Carol. "I want to help people in trouble, and the Red Cross is a good place to go."

Today, the same spirit of compassion that helped Carol continues through Red Cross disaster response efforts and preparedness programs such as the Home Fire Campaign, which helps families reduce their risk of home fire through free smoke alarm installations and home fire safety education.

Home fires remain the nation's most frequent disaster. Red Cross volunteers respond to home fires every day, helping families access emergency shelter, food, financial assistance and recovery resources.

During Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, the Red Cross urges everyone to:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including inside and outside sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan.
• Ensure everyone in the household knows two ways out of every room.
• Choose a safe outdoor meeting place and practice reaching it within two minutes.

To learn more about home fire safety and preparedness, visit redcross.org/fire. To sign up for free smoke alarm installations, visit our local webpage.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.