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A substantial fire erupted at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, located in north-west England, prompting the hospitalization of two individuals due to suspected smoke inhalation. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the facility known for constructing nuclear submarines for the UK defense industry.
According to Cumbria police, the fire was reported at 12:44 am, but they assured that there was no associated nuclear risk. The Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service responded to the scene, with authorities initially advising local residents to remain indoors. By 8:15 am, it was no longer necessary to stay indoors, though keeping doors and windows closed was still recommended.
The fire resulted in two individuals requiring hospital attention due to concerns of smoke inhalation, though BAE Systems later confirmed that one of them was discharged. The company expressed that it was coordinating with emergency services to manage the situation.
The area surrounding Devonshire Dock Hall, the primary indoor submarine manufacturing complex, was evacuated as a precaution. BAE Systems stated they had no immediate information about the fire’s cause. The Ministry of Defence also confirmed cooperation with emergency services and noted it was premature to determine the fire’s origin.
Defense sources indicated there was no suggestion of sabotage or terrorism, although investigations were still in the early stages. Recently, Ken McCallum, MI5’s head, warned of Russian military intelligence efforts to instigate chaos in the UK, referencing activities such as arson and sabotage.
Social media posts depicted flames and smoke emanating from Devonshire Dock Hall, where BAE Systems constructs the UK’s Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. The shipyard had recently launched HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute submarine, and continued constructing the seventh and final vessel, HMS Agincourt.
The Barrow facility is also developing Dreadnought-class submarines, intended to replace the Vanguard submarines in the 2030s as carriers of the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent. Dominating the town, the site employs approximately 10,000 individuals. BAE Systems has been expanding its workforce to meet demands from the Royal Navy’s new submarine programs and the trilateral AUSKUS treaty with the US and Australia to build submarines for Australia.
The company anticipates its workforce to grow to around 17,000 by the early 2030s. Additionally, the UK has committed over £3 billion to its nuclear defense sector over the next two years to enhance capacity and support AUSKUS project deliveries.