City commissioners Tuesday night formally recognized four Haskell Indian Nations University students who risked their own safety to notify residents of the Boardwalk Apartments during the Oct. 7 fire.

Commissioners read proclamations recognizing the actions of Zachary Noline, Joseph Anderson, Adam Washington and Lumhe Sampson. The four Haskell students were in a nearby apartment about 1 a.m. on Oct. 7 when the fire at Boardwalk Apartments began.

“It just happened so fast,” Anderson said. “We ran and began pounding on doors and telling people ‘fire, fire.’ We just hoped people would hear us.”

Commissioners also observed a moment of silence in memory of the three Boardwalk residents who were killed in the fire.