CAMBRIDGE — Nine-year-old Noel Newell did everything right when fire ripped through her Clyde Road apartment building in June.

And Keith Brown didn’t hesitate to grab a fire extinguisher to help a neighbour snuff flames in a Main Street house in February.

Both received public commendations at the Cambridge Fire Department’s annual awards night Friday.

Also receiving thanks were two business owners.

Dennis Copeland, owner of the city’s two Giant Tiger stores, was thanked for years of supporting fire prevention programs and the downtown fire museum and education centre on Dickson Street.

Brian Garbedian of Cambridge Auto Wreckers has donated hundreds of scrap cars to the fire department over two decades. They’re used by firefighters to practice using hydraulic shears and spreading tools to free people from car wrecks.

This is the third year the fire department publicly thanked people for fast thinking that can save lives.

“When we go to emergencies, there’s usually someone around who’s taken some action … the community, I think in Cambridge is always full of people ready to help,” said Fire Chief Terry Allen.

On June 14, Noel was playing in the hallways of 260 Clyde Rd. when she spotted smoke on the second floor about 11 a.m. She ran to her disbelieving parents to report the fire, then started banging on doors to other residents people on the lazy Sunday morning.

She also herded her young friends outside to safety in the front yard of the three storey building as fire trucks arrived. None of the 24 people in the building were injured, as three apartments were consumed. Damage was set at $750,000.

Afterwards, Noel told firefighters she remembered training from firefighters who visited Manchester Public school.

Brown’s wife was in the driveway of 248 Main St. when she spotted smoke coming from a neighbour’s house Feb. 28. She called 911 on her cellphone and yelled to her husband inside their house.

Brown grabbed their household fire extinguisher, ran across the street to stop the flames before they spread.

Both Newell and Brown reacted fast to urgent situations, thought clearly about what to do and took actions that didn’t endanger themselves, Allen said. It’s the message the fire department has been pushing for decades in schools and at public events.

“We’re really happy with the impact of public education. This is example of it,” he said.

kswayze@cambridgereporter.com