A fire has broken out at a shipyard currently building Britain’s next-generation nuclear submarines, each costing the Royal Navy £1.6 billion to develop.
Two people have been rushed to hospital after flames burst out at BAE Systems’ site in Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria.
Emergency services arrived at the scene at 12.45am as the fire continued to rage.
Police confirmed there was ‘no nuclear risk’, adding that two people were taken to hospital after suffering suspected smoke inhalation.
A statement said: ‘At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else has been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for.’
Police advised people living nearby to ‘remain indoors whilst emergency services respond to the incident and keep doors and windows closed’.
Cumbria Police said: ‘Emergency services are currently in attendance at BAE at a significant fire at the site.
‘This incident was reported at around 00.44am this morning (30 Oct).
‘Two people have been taken to hospital having suffered suspected smoke inhalation.
‘At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else have been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for. A road closure is in place on Michaelson Bridge.’
Vision shared on social media overnight showed flames shooting out from the Devonshire Dock Hall building, with alarms blaring in the background.
The facility is home to Britain’s Astute-class submarines and Dreadnought programme.
Police said the Devonshire Dock Hall, the site’s main building facility, had been evacuated and that everyone inside had been accounted for.
The six-acre hall is the second-largest indoor shipbuilding complex of its kind in Europe.
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 are currently being built at the site and are due to replace the Vanguard submarines in the next 10 years.
BAE Systems confirmed two employees had been rushed to hospital. A spokesperson said: ‘We are working with emergency services to deal with a fire at site in Barrow in Furness.
‘Two colleagues have been taken to hospital having suffered suspected smoke inhalation.
‘At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else have been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for. Further updates will be given in due course.’
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