BAE Fire: Barrow police speak out on 'nuclear risk' after huge fire at submarine shipyard

Cumbria Police and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service stay successful attendance astatine BAE Systems's shipyard successful Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, pursuing the monolithic blaze this morning

Worried residents adjacent a submarine shipyard which caught fire contiguous person been reassured determination is "no atomic risk".

Communities adjacent BAE Systems, a shipyard astatine Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH) successful Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, were acrophobic the blaze would contiguous a important risk. It broke retired astatine astir 12.45am and since past residents crossed the larboard metropolis and afar person shared dramatic photographs of the fierce flames.

At slightest 2 radical person been rushed to infirmary owed to fume inhalation. However, the concern is not arsenic bleak arsenic residents successful Barrow had archetypal feared. One antheral had heard "a large thump" from the BAE Systems site, the lone installation successful the UK wherever submarines are made.

BAE Systems is the largest defence contractor successful Europe, and cater for Ministry of Defence, and truthful Barrow residents person shared alarm immoderate incidental determination could beryllium peculiarly serious. One nonmigratory said online: "Isn't this really truly bad?... I conscionable thought atomic subs."

Cumbria Police said successful a statement: "Emergency services are presently successful attendance astatine BAE astatine a important occurrence astatine the site. This incidental was reported astatine astir 00.44am this greeting (30 Oct) and remains ongoing.

"There is nary atomic risk. However, radical surviving adjacent are advised to stay indoors whilst exigency services respond to the incidental and support doors and windows closed.

"Two radical person been taken to infirmary having suffered suspected fume inhalation. At this clip determination are nary different casualties and everyone other person been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for. A roadworthy closure is successful spot connected Michaelson Bridge."

The DDH was utilized to physique the Vanguard-class submarines nuclear-powered ballistic rocket submarines and is presently gathering the cutting-edge Astute-class submarines to regenerate the Vanguard subs.

A spokesperson for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: "Fire crews are presently dealing with an Fire successful the vicinity of BAE systems successful Barrow, residents successful the country are advised to support windows and doors closed and debar the area. We admit your co-operation portion we woody with the incident."

BAE Systems confirmed 2 employees person been rushed to hospital. A spokesperson said: "We are moving with exigency services to woody with a occurrence astatine tract successful Barrow successful Furness.

"Two colleagues person been taken to infirmary having suffered suspected fume inhalation. At this clip determination are nary different casualties and everyone other person been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for. Further updates volition beryllium fixed successful owed course."