Falmouth, Swanvale fire 1944

Incendiary bomb 30th May 1944, The last great air assault on Cornwall concerned a massive widespread raid directed at Falmouth and it's immediate environs. - A direct hit on a one and a quarter million gallon petrol storage tank at Swanvale set a fire which continued to burn for twenty-two hours. The
attack began at about midnight and by 12.30 a.m the fractured tank was blazing furiously. When the burning oil took the course of the little stream, six feet wide, the evacuation of the village below began, as whirlpools of smoke and flame erupted 70 feet into the air. Water and foam were hurled at the conflagration in a vain attempt to stifle the flames. After many hours the situation was saved when two bulldozers arrived and two American servicemen volunteered to drive them through the flames and divert the stream by damming it. Their heroic mission, for which they later received British Empire Medals, was successful and 24 hours later the battle which involved 28 pumps, 200 firemen and 500 American soldiers and sailors who were among those waiting in the area to embark for the beaches of Normandy, was over. This was one of the great fire battles of the war and it's conduct and successful outcome reflected great credit on all those who were involved.

[@justicebrewing9449]

At 2:43 my great uncle Phil drove the towns only tractor fr over 2 days, stopping only to fill it up with fuel and change his smoldering and burnt clothes, He dug and filled ditches, pushing the fire to the sea. The people of Falmouth would run out and throw buckets of water on him to keep him from catching fire from the extreme heat. He was the only tractor for 2 days until a second showed up to help. The diesel reignited 7 times but no houses were lost, and no one died! He was awarded The George Cross by the Prime Minister for his actions that week on behalf of the British people.