A major fire broke out early Wednesday morning at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria, where new nuclear submarines are currently being constructed.

The incident triggered a rapid response from emergency services, with two individuals hospitalised for suspected smoke inhalation. Authorities have confirmed there is no nuclear threat to the area.

The fire reportedly originated within Devonshire Dock Hall, the facility’s primary assembly site, where a £1.6 billion Astute-class submarine is under construction. Footage captured by local residents shows heavy smoke billowing from the building, prompting officials to urge those nearby to keep windows and doors shut and avoid the area.

Cumbria Police released a statement at 4 AM, stating: “Emergency services are currently in attendance at BAE at a significant fire at the site… there is no nuclear risk.” They also confirmed that all personnel within the affected area have been evacuated and accounted for.

Residents expressed concerns on social media, noting the blaze could be seen for miles around. One local described hearing a “loud thump” prior to the fire, while another commented on the unsettling sight of flames at a facility of such significance. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has advised residents to remain indoors while firefighters work to contain the blaze.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Cymbeline
Cymbeline (@guest_867345)
4 hours ago

Hoping that the 2 hospitalised are OK. Sounds serious, a lot at stake here, not just for UK security but NATO as well.

Tams
Tams (@guest_867347)
4 hours ago

Thankfully, at least no one has been killed or is missing.

And Agamemnon is no longer in the hall.

fearlesstunafish
fearlesstunafish (@guest_867349)
4 hours ago

accident or more sabotage? :/

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867353)
3 hours ago

indeed. while welding is known to have caused many fires in shipyards, like La Perle sub in France not long ago, it does seem odd to have a fire cause by work on ship at around midnight (maybe not if that shipyard runs 24/7, idk). without being a conspiracy theorist by nature, the current geopolitical context is ripe motivation for activists and foreign state actors. there have been plenty of incidents in recent years targeting western military industry. the next big question is the effects on submarine production due to damage. no matter what happened, I expect the situation will… Read more »

Last edited 3 hours ago by lordtemplar
Jules
Jules (@guest_867369)
2 hours ago
Reply to  lordtemplar

+ proven sabotage of naval group shipyard in Lorient last year and suspicions in the us…

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867373)
2 hours ago
Reply to  Jules

yes France’s FDI frigate cables were cut in 2023, just a couple of months after a similar incident happened to Type 26 in Glasgow
Also french underwater cables were cut south of Toulon, France in 2022. Not a simple thing to do since it requires special equipment not avaliable to public.
Plus recent suspected Russian assassination attempt against Rheinmetall CEO in Germany.
Not to mention recent attacks in UK against military companies, Elbit, Leonardo and Thales.

maurice10
maurice10 (@guest_867390)
1 hour ago
Reply to  lordtemplar

Sabotage will obviously be part of post-fire investigations, however more likely to be an internal factory system failure.

Joe16
Joe16 (@guest_867377)
2 hours ago

First thought I had when I read the headline.
There have been a number of suspected and mostly proven cases of sabotage at military production facilities across Europe, not to mention the foiled assassination of Rheinmettal’s CEO. Not to mention that MI5 and MI6 have been warning about this from Russia for some time.
If it does turn out to be sabotage, an appropriately robust response should be made- I’m sick of bending over backwards and pretending that this is not material escalation from the other side that should be responded to.

Cymbeline
Cymbeline (@guest_867386)
1 hour ago
Reply to  Joe16

I doubt the truth will come out if it is. I can see the headlines coming out of Miscow though, caused by a cigarette. They are going to have a field day. It’s certainly going to put our programmes back though. Do BAE have any fullback options?

Joe16
Joe16 (@guest_867401)
44 minutes ago
Reply to  Cymbeline

They’ll certainly be happy to see it, will be interesting to see if there’s any claim to it, vague threats about what happens to those who cross Russia, or just some criticism of lax standards.
No, I’m 99.9% certain there aren’t any other facilities for sub manufacture in the UK. Hopefully it’s just a lot of oil smoke, and not much structurally damaged.

Ron
Ron (@guest_867351)
4 hours ago

Someones head is going to role for this one. Hope everything and everyone is ok.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867355)
3 hours ago

The MDP provide security at this site I believe.
If this is Russian Grey Zone they’d better grip this and up security.
I assume all the new BAES staff are being correctly vetted?

Graham Moore
Graham Moore (@guest_867358)
3 hours ago

I have never heard of MDP protecting commercial premises, but it is possible.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867361)
3 hours ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

I believe MDP is present at several non MoD facilities, from CNI Gas Terminals to at one time the Royal Mint.
I need to check later, but GCHQ, Raynesway and Barrow are also listed.

Joe16
Joe16 (@guest_867378)
2 hours ago

Morning mate, at present, given what’s happened across Europe over the last couple of years, I think there’s a very strong possibility that this is Russian grey zone. I’m hoping for an appropriate response if shown to be the case.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867383)
1 hour ago
Reply to  Joe16

Morning Joe.
It’s natural to speculate and to jump to that conclusion given the other fires that have occurred.
Agree, It’s quite possible.
Yes, if so, I’d hope to see Russian factories going up in smoke.
The West can play in the grey zone too, and I’m sure we do. It’s just not openly acknowledged.

Joe16
Joe16 (@guest_867407)
30 minutes ago

Indeed, I do wonder how many of those ‘smoking accidents’ in Russia are the result of sabotage- although Russia has plenty of potential enemies who may have carried them out.
It certainly is beginning to feel a lot more unstable across Europe, and it does frustrate me that a large part of the media and public don’t seem to care.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867416)
8 minutes ago
Reply to  Joe16

Pride in nation diminished. “Nationalism” vilified by parts of the left and their media thralls. Is anything taught in schools beyond the wrongs of Empire?
No wonder wider issues don’t resonate with so many.
When it starts to directly affect them, if sabotage hits utilities and food, they will be hollering looking to partition blame.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke (@guest_867379)
2 hours ago

I think they have a presence there due to the nuclear materials and the need for armed security that renta-sleepy-bloke-in-cabin cannot offer. The problem with all of this is that CCTV, sensors and fences only get you so far with the mass of defence related site we have in the UK. In the past there would have a rapid response from Plod. However, now there are more Plod than army this cannot happen…the way public sector staffing operates is for the birds given the huge numbers employed in NHS / Police etc – more bodies than ever but less output.… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867388)
1 hour ago

Agreed.
And if this was sabotage, what if it was an inside job? You coukd have all the MDP and physical security you desire but it won’t stop that.
Which was why I mentioned effective vetting earlier.
I’ve no idea, but I assume workers involved with hands on or access to the build areas at Raynesway and Barrow are DV or enhanced?

ABCRodney
ABCRodney (@guest_867406)
35 minutes ago

Correct ! I can’t speak for Barrow but at Derby it’s very thorough, different levels for different zones within the overall plant. It’s a big like a Russian doll, plants within plants. As for MDP they have a presence but it varies depending on threat levels and material / component deliveries.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli (@guest_867417)
8 minutes ago
Reply to  ABCRodney

Thanks mate.

expat
expat (@guest_867423)
3 seconds ago

Of course it could be someone who feels their own country needs to be taught a lesson on its stance in the Middle East and Israel.

Michael S.
Michael S. (@guest_867360)
3 hours ago

In Germany, we recently had a fire at a Dynamit Nobel plant producing explosives… Not saying it is russian interference, but who knows… Its all speculation, of course.

Phil C
Phil C (@guest_867364)
2 hours ago
Reply to  Michael S.

Who knows indeed, but even if it’s not Russian meddling, I bet they love the fact they’re getting in our heads.

Geoffi
Geoffi (@guest_867365)
2 hours ago

Hope Agincourt is safe.

One way or the other, significant delay for her and AUKUS.

Mark Kennett
Mark Kennett (@guest_867366)
2 hours ago

Important thing at this present time is that everyone is accounted for.
Hope the two casualties with smoke inhalation will be O.K.
MDP may well patrol the site. Police statement is from Cumbria police.

AlbertStarburst
AlbertStarburst (@guest_867371)
2 hours ago

Pure hypothetical speculation on my part, but what IF this were proven to be Russian/China/NKorea/Iranian sabotage, what should the UK’s response be?

Or will the UK just cover up/put head in sand?

Jacko
Jacko (@guest_867372)
2 hours ago

What do you think? Didn’t do a lot after Salisbury did we! And that was proven.

Elliot
Elliot (@guest_867375)
2 hours ago
Reply to  Jacko

Agreed. I saw the Salisbury incident as an act of war personally. IF this incident at Barrow is proven to be ruzzian sabotage etc a tough response must be taken.

But they wont cause they dont want to “escalate” things.

Appeasement is sleep walking us into a WW3

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867389)
1 hour ago
Reply to  Elliot

Even if outrageous and clear Russain contempt for the UK rule of law and sovereignity, I don’t see Salisbury as an act of war. Afterall, it was not targetted at the UK nor a UK citizen, but rather a Russian one, and most importantly no one died.

If it turns out to be the Russian involvement behind the Barrow fire, then I think the UK should seize the Russian funds in the UK as compensation for any damages and delays, a much better alternative than war.

my 2 cents

Peter S
Peter S (@guest_867399)
50 minutes ago
Reply to  lordtemplar

No one died from Novichok? Er yes they did even if not the intended targets.

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867418)
7 minutes ago
Reply to  Peter S

thanks i did not know that Sturgess died after finding a perfume flask. RIP

expat
expat (@guest_867421)
3 minutes ago
Reply to  lordtemplar

Ultimately it will be hard to prove, Russia always looks to design attacks so there’s plausible deniability in the non aligned worlds eyes. So action by we would look like the aggressor.

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867380)
2 hours ago

The UK didnt cover up the sabotage of Type 26 in Glasgow. Even if details are not shared, the UK is fairly open abouts its issues, like most western countries and unlike Russia which does nothing but lie internationally and its people on a continual basis.

Response will be to condemn it, but the UK (just like any sane western democracy) isnt going to war, invade or launch nukes over sabotage. Instead it will learn what went wrong and increase security measures to avoid this in the future.

harryb
harryb (@guest_867385)
1 hour ago

A good response would be to give Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow against select Industrial targets in Russia.

OldSchool
OldSchool (@guest_867391)
1 hour ago
Reply to  harryb

Could be an ITAR issue tho?

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867405)
37 minutes ago
Reply to  OldSchool

not really. France replaced the ITAR component on Scalp/Storm Shadow when US blocked sale of missile to Egypt when they bought Rafale in 2015. So Egypt has ITAR free missiles, and it stands to reason that all missiles produced since then are ITAR free.

Paul T
Paul T (@guest_867395)
1 hour ago
Reply to  harryb

How would they launch them?.

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867410)
22 minutes ago
Reply to  Paul T

Ukraine can launch Storm Shadow from their SU24. They have used Storm Shadow multiple times in Crimea, Luhansk, Donest. in May 2024, Macron has said Ukraine could strike Russian soil but limited to military targets in Russia directly used to attack Ukraine. I think Starmer made a similar statement in July 2024 where he said “UK would allow defensive use of missile on targets within Russia”. So in theory Ukraine can use Storm Shadow on Russian soil limited to military targets involved in the war (ie airfields where Russian aircraft launch) Whether Ukraine has actually used the missile on Russian… Read more »

Paul T
Paul T (@guest_867413)
12 minutes ago
Reply to  lordtemplar

What if Ukraine has no operational SU 24’s left – which is the case now I believe ?.

lordtemplar
lordtemplar (@guest_867422)
1 minute ago
Reply to  Paul T

then they have to wait for the first batch of Mirage 2000, which is scheduled to start delivery of a few planes in Q1 2025.

Daniel
Daniel (@guest_867411)
22 minutes ago
Reply to  Paul T

From Su-24 or in future Mirage 2000?

expat
expat (@guest_867415)
8 minutes ago

Russia is very obvious suspect and already has form.

I doubt it would be Iran, the UK stance on Gaza/ Lebanon is starting to align to their objectives re Isreal with talk now of full arms embargo so they’re not going to do anything that might cause UK government to change direction. N.Korea we’re not a main actor for them and I think China will be looking to see how they can work politically with the new government they would do anything that might upset that.