Two people were taken to hospital after a “significant fire” broke out at a nuclear submarine shipyard belonging to the U.K.’s largest defense manufacturer, according to local authorities.
Police were called to BAE Systems’ nuclear submarine site in Barrow-in-Furness at 12:44 a.m. local time on Wednesday, police in the U.K.’s northwestern Cumbria region said in a statement. Two people were hospitalized with suspected smoke inhalation, the police said.
BAE Systems said these two people were employees of the company, and have been released from hospital.
“There is no nuclear risk,” police said. BAE Systems is currently building the first two Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines, which are slated to take over in the next decade as the U.K.’s nuclear deterrent, at the Cumbria shipyard.
BAE Systems has previously described the building of these new advanced submarines in Cumbria as the biggest current defense project in the U.K., and “one of the largest and most complex engineering projects in the world.”
A submarine is pictured outside the BAE Systems construction hall near the town of Barrow-in-Furness, north-west England, 26 January 2007. Two people were taken to hospital after a “significant fire” broke out at a nuclear…
A submarine is pictured outside the BAE Systems construction hall near the town of Barrow-in-Furness, north-west England, 26 January 2007. Two people were taken to hospital after a “significant fire” broke out at a nuclear submarine shipyard belonging to the U.K.’s largest defense manufacturer, according to local authorities.
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Barrow-in-Furness is also home to the U.K.’s Astute-class attack submarines. Approximately 10,000 people work on the two submarine programs at Barrow-in-Furness, according to BAE Systems.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense said it was “working closely with the emergency services and BAE Systems following a fire at the site in Barrow-in-Furness.”
“We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response and wish those who have required hospital treatment a quick recovery.”
Local residents were told shortly before 4 a.m. local time to stay indoors, with windows and doors closed.
Devonshire Dock Hall, the major building in the shipyard, was evacuated and all personnel accounted for, the police and BAE Systems said.
❗️ A fire has broken out in the UK at a shipyard where the latest nuclear submarines are being built
Police in the county of Cumbria reported a major fire at the site of defense company BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. Law enforcement officials said two people were… pic.twitter.com/EAkCCppHZu
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 30, 2024
It is the tallest building in Cumbria, and the second-largest indoor shipbuilding complex of its type in Europe, according to the defense giant. It covers over 25,000 square meters, equivalent to approximately six acres.
In a later statement at 8:15 a.m. local time, police said the fire was still ongoing, with emergency services likely to be present throughout the day. People living nearby no longer have to stay indoors, police said, but those close to the facility are advised to avoid the area while emergency services battle the blaze.
Footage shared online early on Wednesday, which Newsweek could not independently verify, appeared to show heavy smoke at the facility.
BAE is one of the biggest defense names in the world, responsible for producing a wide range of military equipment, from ammunition to parts of fighter jets and naval vessels.
Update 10/30/24, 4:50 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.