The firefighters were the first to arrive at the Glasgow Airport attack

The three crews tackled a blazing jeep which rammed into a packed terminal building on 30 June.

Ten of the 15 firefighters involved, from Paisley and Renfrew fire stations, were presented with the Chief Officer's Commendation for their courage.

They were all said to be "cringingly embarrassed" at the award.

Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, handed out the awards at the ceremony in Renfrew Fire Station.

The other five officers being recognised were not able to make the occasion.

They understood the danger, yet they still put themselves in harm's way Brian Sweeney Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

The award citation described how they all quickly realised the incident could be a terrorist attack and within minutes of arriving were able to get water jets on what appeared to be burning gas cylinders inside the jeep and the developing blaze at the front of the terminal.

Their prompt action also helped save the terminal building from severe damage and allowed it to open within 24-hours of the incident, the citation said.

It went on: "The prompt and professional actions of the initial crews attending this fire played a decisive part in the positive development of the incident and to its ultimate successful conclusion.

"Whilst it was established almost immediately on arrival that this was indeed a terrorist incident with all the attendant uncertainty of further attacks or secondary devices being deployed against them, firefighters carried out their duties in an exemplary and courageous manner.

"Their decisive actions without doubt saved the terminal building from not only more severe fire damage on the day, but assisted greatly in the speedy and successful return to normal operations at the airport."

'Special nature'

The citation added that the firefighters' actions were worthy of the "highest praise and merit".

Mr Sweeney said this was the first time in four years that such an award had been given out by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

He told the audience of firefighters, family, friends and local dignitaries that the men's actions exemplified all that was best about Scotland.

The fire chief said: "It was the day that terrorism arrived in Glasgow and at Glasgow Airport in particular.

"It was also the day that showed off Scotland at its best and everything about the special nature of the people of Scotland.

"No one more exemplified that than the firefighters of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue."

Mr Sweeney added: "There was pretty much no doubt about what they had in front of them that day, no doubt about the danger they faced.

"They understood the danger, yet they still put themselves in harm's way.

"I am really, really proud of you."