Two treated after fire at BAE nuclear shipyard

Two people were taken to hospital after a “significant fire” broke out at the BAE Systems nuclear submarine shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, police have said.

Emergency services were called to the site, where the UK’s nuclear submarines are built, at about 00:44 GMT on Wednesday.

Those taken to hospital were said to be suffering from suspected smoke inhalation and have since been released, BAE confirmed, with everyone “accounted for”.

Cumbria Police said there was “no nuclear risk”. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

Police said the Devonshire Dock Hall, the site’s main building facility, was evacuated overnight.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said it was working closely with BAE and the emergency services following the fire.

Stuart Hook, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said 15 appliances had been at the scene tackling the blaze, which has since been extinguished, and many “tired firefighters” were on their way home.

People living nearby should keep their doors and windows closed.

Drivers in the area have also been told to close their windows, air vents and sunroofs, as well as to turn off fans and air conditioning units.

David Harris, who lives nearby, said he could see “smoke in the distance” after leaving a local gym in the early hours.

He said emergency services were already at the scene when he arrived.

“Given the equipment used within the submarines… I only live a few streets back from where I took the footage so I did feel worried,” he told the BBC.

Another resident, Donna Butler, said she saw “a lot of black smoke” which was “really thick”.

Jeff Holt said as soon as he stepped outside his home, which is about a mile away from the shipyard, he could “smell the burning and smoke”.

“That’s how intense it must have been at the time,” he said.

On Wednesday morning there was a metallic smell of smoke in the air and the doors of the affected building remained open, with smoke damage seen on the facility.

Workers turning up for their shifts were confused as to which parts of the site were accessible and whether or not they should go in.

BAE has since told non-essential staff at Devonshire Dock Hall to not go to work on Wednesday morning and to work from home if possible.

All other staff have been told to attend as usual but to check the employee hotline if they need more details.

Roads at nearby Michaelson Bridge are expected to reopen.

Covering around six acres, the hall is the second-largest indoor shipbuilding complex of its kind in Europe, according to BAE Systems.

The craft to have been built in the hall include the four Vanguard Class submarines that make up the UK’s Trident nuclear programme.

Four new nuclear submarines from the Dreadnought Class are currently being built at the site and are due to replace the Vanguard submarines in the early 2030s.

And the last of the Royal Navy’s seven new nuclear-powered submarines, part of the Astute Class, is also being built at the site.

Additional reporting by PA Media