By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

Heroes come in all sizes, including two little girls.

Mariah Moser-Poppleton, 10, and Kendra Snow, 8, who live in Rhododendron Park, were presented with a Citizen Hero Award Dec. 19 by East Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Packer at the Public Safety Building.

It was Nov. 28 when the girls showed the stuff that makes a citizen hero.

&#8220We were playing a bike racing game outside,” Kendra said. &#8220When all of a sudden we heard the sound.”

Deena Moser-Poppleton, Mariah's mother, had told the girls they were never to cross the street, fortunately this time they bent the rule.

&#8220We crossed the street and we could tell it was a fire alarm at our neighbor's house,” Mariah said. &#8220We ran back home to tell my mom and dad.”

Moser-Poppleton said the girls did not panic and knew exactly what to do.

&#8220First Mariah apologized to me for crossing the street,” Moser-Poppleton said. &#8220But the girls said they heard the alarm at our neighbor's house and they had to let Dad and I know.”

Moser-Poppleton went over to pound on the door of the house while her husband, Dale, dialed 9-1-1.

East Pierce Fire and Rescue responded and was able to contain the blaze.

According to Packer, the fire started on the kitchen stove and no one was home at the time. Packer said the &#8220fire was minutes away from destroying the home.”

Both Mariah and Kendra said they learned how to act in a fire emergency from firefighter demonstrations at their school, Victor Falls Elementary.

Moser-Poppleton said the girls have been friends for many years and have been &#8220raised together for most of their lives.”

At the ceremony, Mariah said she was nervous from all the attention, but &#8220felt good” about what they had done to help save the home.