Eight fire departments and emergency responders were thanked for their quick response and success in putting out the June 20 fire at the Royston-Chase Corp. in Blawnox.

Gregg Pelagio, vice president and general manager of Chase Corp., presented each of the eight fire departments who responded to the fire, and the Blawnox police, with an "Unsung Hero Award."

"As a country we all look up to the football players, the hockey players, the movie stars," Pelagio said, "but the firefighters, they're the real stars of this world, they're really the heroes."

The company presented about 100 firefighters from Blawnox, Aspinwall, Guyasuta, Sharpsburg, Harmar, Fox Chapel, Millvale, and Pleasant Valley and the Blawnox police department with medals, plaques, T-shirts, hats and a reception on June 24.

Blawnox Fire Chief George McBriar said the fire had the potential to be especially dangerous because of the chemicals that the company uses. However, the fire departments had the flames under control in about 20 minutes and were able to extinguish the blaze in an hour.

Pelagio said as he watched the firefighters take off their gear he saw that many were wearing shorts, or business clothes under their fire fighting suits.

"I saw them taking off their gear, and I said "'Wow, they must have just come from cutting the grass,'" Pelagio said.

"They just drop what they're doing."

The quick response of the fire departments saved much of the building, Pelagio said, and parts of the affected building are back up and running.

McBriar said he was surprised by the celebration. Although McBriar admits he doesn't feel like an "unsung hero," he is grateful for the recognition for all of the hard work the volunteer firefighters put into the job everyday.

"We just go in and do our job, but this guy gave us so much consideration," McBriar said.

"He went to a lot of effort, and I think I felt better that the recognition was there for the all the departments."