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Early on Wednesday, a significant fire broke out at a BAE Systems shipyard in north-west England where nuclear submarines are constructed, leading to two individuals being hospitalized.
The fire was first reported at 12.44am at the BAE Systems site in the port of Barrow-in-Furness, according to Cumbria police. They confirmed that there was no nuclear risk associated with the fire.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is currently on the scene, and residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the affected area.
The two individuals who were hospitalized were suspected of suffering from smoke inhalation. BAE Systems stated that one of them has since been released.
In a statement, the company mentioned that they are collaborating with emergency services to address the fire at their site in Barrow-in-Furness.
BAE reported that the area surrounding the main Devonshire Dock Hall, where Royal Navy submarines are constructed indoors, has been evacuated and all individuals have been safely accounted for.
Images shared on social media depicted flames and smoke rising above the Devonshire Dock Hall.
The Barrow shipyard is the production site for Britain’s nuclear-powered Astute-class attack submarines. Furthermore, it is where BAE is currently working on the latest Dreadnought-class vessels that will carry the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent and are scheduled to replace the Vanguard submarines in the early 2030s.
This riverside facility is a prominent feature of the town and employs approximately 10,000 individuals. BAE has recently increased its workforce in order to meet the demands of the new submarine programs for the Royal Navy, as well as to fulfill obligations under the trilateral Aukus treaty with the US and Australia for the construction of submarines for Canberra.
The company has stated that it anticipates the workforce at the facility to grow to around 17,000 individuals by the early part of the next decade. Last year, the UK announced plans to invest over £3 billion in its nuclear defense enterprise over the next two years to enhance capacity and support the delivery of Aukus.