A large fire broke out at the nuclear submarine shipyard in England.

A fire that broke out this morning at the shipyard where the UK's next-generation nuclear submarines are produced has led to a major emergency response and concerns among local residents.

The "serious" fire started shortly after midnight at the BAE Systems factory in Cumbria. Two people were taken to the hospital.

Local residents reported that the fire concentrated in the 6-acre Devonshire Dock Hall, the main production site for the £1.6 billion Astute-class nuclear submarine.

While the police stated that there is no "nuclear risk," the cause of the fire and what was burning has not yet been clarified.

Images from the scene show thick smoke rising from the large factory building. Residents were advised to stay away from the area and keep their doors and windows closed.

Cumbria Police stated in a statement at 04:00, "Emergency teams are responding to the serious fire at BAE. The incident was reported at 00:44 this morning and is ongoing. There is no nuclear risk, but those living nearby are advised to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed."

Two people believed to be affected by smoke were taken to the hospital, while all other personnel at Devonshire Dock Hall were evacuated and reported safe.

BAE Systems stated, "We are working with emergency services to respond to the fire at our facility in Barrow."

Local residents noted that the fire at the large factory could be seen from miles away and expressed their concerns on social media. One eyewitness reported hearing a "big bang" from the building earlier in the night.

The historic shipyard, which has been building ships for over 100 years, has constructed all but three of the UK's nuclear submarine fleet. The latest HMS Agincourt is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

A fire also broke out during the construction of the fifth Astute-class submarine at the shipyard in 2018, and a year earlier, many workers were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide leakage.