By Claire Moses
A significant fire erupted at a nuclear submarine facility in northwestern England early on Wednesday morning. According to a representative from BAE Systems, the organization that operates the facility, two individuals were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation; however, law enforcement stated that there was no threat of nuclear fallout.
The fire began shortly after midnight at the site located in Barrow-in-Furness, England, where vessels for the Royal Navy are manufactured. As of 7:30 a.m., emergency personnel were still present at the location, according to police, with firefighters expected to be engaged for a significant portion of the day.
Authorities advised nearby residents to keep their homes’ windows and doors closed. They also recommended that drivers in the vicinity should shut their “windows, air vents, and sunroofs, and turn off fans. If available, deactivate fans and air conditioning units.”
Neither BAE Systems nor local officials disclosed the cause of the fire. The company indicated that it was collaborating with emergency responders on-site and confirmed that all personnel had been located. The two individuals sent to the hospital were discharged by 9 a.m. local time, per a BAE Systems representative.
BAE Systems employs around 100,000 individuals worldwide across 40 nations and collaborates with various countries, including the United States. In December, the Biden administration awarded the company a federal grant from a program designed to strengthen U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.
