The Honolulu Fire Department awarded its highest medal for valor to a civilian who rushed into a burning Vineyard Boulevard apartment to rescue a 54-year-old man in July before firefighters arrived.

Randall Chatman-Franklin was among the 10 civilians and firefighters who were recognized at a commendation ceremony Nov. 12 at the Charles H. Thurston Training Center near Honolulu Airport.

Chatman-Franklin entered the apartment-destroying blaze before some 30 fighters arrived at 404 N. Vineyard Blvd. on July 26. Paramedics treated the man rescued from the fire for smoke inhalation and took him in serious condition to the hospital, an Emergency Medical Services report said.

Firefighters estimated the fire caused $140,000 in damage. Three people were displaced.

The ceremony also featured presentation of certificates of commendation to fast-thinking civilians, firefighters and others:

>> Ian McCarthy, who retrieved an unconscious child from a swimming pool and successfully performed CPR to revive her June 10.

>> Miriam Airhart and Robert Kerns, who assisted a person experiencing cardiac arrest at Times Square Shopping Center on June 29.

>> Off-duty firefighter Brandon Felix and Tyler Saenz, who rescued two people swept offshore by large waves July 25.

>> Firefighter Kenneth Iki, Federal Fire Department Regional Training Chief Chris Rapoza, San Jose (Calif.) Fire Department Fire Capt. Jarrod Sniffen and Maria Bermundo Castro and Melanie Chew, who worked as a team to successfully perform CPR to revive an individual experiencing cardiac arrest July 25.

>> Juan Sebastian Sepulveda, who removed a driver from a vehicle involved in a collision Aug. 8, before the vehicle caught fire.

>> Off-duty Honolulu police officer Casey Melvin and Bin Yasuno, who used a fire cabinet hose line to bring a high-rise fire under control Aug. 12. Melvin was in Waikiki when he heard an explosion and smelled smoke. The off-duty officer noticed a fire on the lanai of a nearby apartment and ran up several floors to put out the flames.

>> Off-duty Capt. Charles Griep and Emergency Medical Services paramedic Matthew Tsuneda, who responded to a vehicle collision involving a bus and multiple patients Sept. 6.

>> Off-duty lifeguard Harold Teshima, who entered treacherous ocean conditions to assist in the rescue of a swimmer in distress Sept. 8.

>> Michelle Spencer and James Chung, who came to the aid of a child found unconscious in a swimming pool Sept. 20.