GREENOCK FIRE DEPARTMENT

FIREMASTER’S REPORT – AIR RAID 6th. MAY 1941

The Air Raid Warning “Red” was received at 00.49 and the Air Raid Message “White” at 03.25

During the period of the raid 25 incidents were recorded at Headquarters. These were expeditiously dealt with and with the exception of the undermentioned, presented no particular difficulty although serious damage was caused in several instances.
The most difficult fires to handle were at Belville St. (incident No.15) where, shortly after the arrival of the Brigade, a high explosive bomb destroyed the water main, (eliminating water pressure over a wide area), and the 5000 gallon steel dam provided for the area. This circumstance necessitating relaying water from Victoria harbour, a distance of about half a mile.
The raid, although on a fair scale, was well within the scope of the local service.
Attached is a summary of the calls received and attended

 

A. S. Pratten
Firemaster

 Fire Brigade Headquarters
Greenock

 15th May 1941

 

Incident No. Time of 1st call Units Attending Address of Incident Fire Damage
  Hy. Lg. Lt. Misc.
1 0:49 1 Torpedo Factory False Alarm
2 1:25 1 2 1st. 37,31,43,45 One Tenement demolished
  T.O. Belville Street and fired by burning gas.
  Reg. Damage in order tenements
  Confined to roof
3 1:50 1 1 Ferguson Bros., Ferguson Bros. yard and a
  Port Glasgow church. No material damage.
4 1:52 1 Newark Street Tenement roof.
  Port Glasgow
5 2:00 1 Lamont’s Yard No material damage
  Port Glasgow
6 2:03 1 2 Gourock Ropework Co. Robert St. Flax Store
  Port Glasgow Stock considerably damaged.
7 2:09 1 5 Wilson Street Kitchen severely damaged.
  Port Glasgow
8 2:24 1 42 Fox Street Room severely damaged
9 2:27 1 Lyle Road Whins only
10 2:27 1 Kingston Yard No damage
  Port Glasgow
11 2:29 1 2 Glen Yard Flax Store and Store and
  Port Glasgow twisting shed severely
  damaged
12 2:31 1 5 Peil Street Roof
13 2:35 1 "Bagatelle", Eldon Roof
  Street
14 2:22 1 1 1 Kilmacolm/Bawhirley Three steel houses berned
  Road out. One severely damaged.
15 & 2:45 2 6 1 Hose 76-85 Belville St. Tenement gutted.
18 Van St. Lawrence, Laurieston Minor damage to other
  & East William Streets tenements.
16 2:50 2 Sinclair Street, Three stacks of timber and
  Railway Siding two trucks.
17 2:59 1 Ladyburn Engine Shed Sheds and offices
19 3:05 1 1st. Carwood St., East Several garages and huts
  T.O. Crawford St. & destroyed.
  Bawhirley Rd.
20 3:05 2 Border Street. Fires among debris of two
  demolished tenement blocks
21 3:20 1 Opposite James Watt False Alarm
  Dock.
22 3:22 1 51 Belville St. Roof.
23 3:29 1 Gray Street. Pair of steel houses