Canada military base fire: Dead, injured in 'serious incident' at CFB Wainwright

A fire at one of Canada's busiest military bases in Alberta left people dead and injured on Saturday, with authorities describing the incident as serious and launching an investigation into its cause. The blaze broke out at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright, near the town of Wainwright in eastern Alberta, about 210 km (130 miles) southeast of Edmonton. It spread rapidly because of high winds, the municipal district said in a Facebook post. The Wainwright Royal Canadian Mounted Police said a call for assistance came in at around 4 pm local time. Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the casualties in a video statement but did not disclose the number of people killed or injured or explain what triggered the fire. "I'm saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident" at the base, McGuinty told reporters in Ottawa. He described the situation as "active and delicate" and said an investigation would begin soon. The Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident. "I cannot recall such an incident in my short time for sure as a minister ... I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory," McGuinty said. Emergency response underway The municipal district said late Saturday that the fire was "being held at this time", although crews would continue monitoring the area. The blaze reportedly spread beyond the base's perimeter fence into the surrounding district. Authorities had not issued an evacuation order but urged residents to avoid the affected area, keep roads clear and visit the Wainwright Health Center only for critical medical needs. The incident also put pressure on healthcare facilities in the region. According to CBC, citing Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital, a code orange was declared in the city. The designation indicates an emergency response involving a large number of patients. "It's a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster," Thirsk said, adding that Wainwright's healthcare centres had been "completely overwhelmed". Patients were being diverted to hospitals across Edmonton. Carney, Alberta premier respond Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that the fire followed "a serious incident" but did not provide further details. In a social media post, Carney said the federal government was working closely with Alberta's provincial government and local authorities. McGuinty said federal, provincial and municipal agencies were coordinating to mobilise support and establish what had happened. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the incident as "significant and tragic", saying it was "affecting many of our brave military personnel." General Jennie Carignan, chief of Canada's Defence Staff, said the Canadian Armed Forces were fully engaged with authorities at all levels. "Our priority remains the welfare of our members, their families and their community," she said on social media. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and McGuinty about the incident. He thanked emergency responders and wrote: "Pray for Wainwright, everyone." What is CFB Wainwright? Located in east-central Alberta, CFB Wainwright houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre. It is also used to train Army field force units based in Edmonton. According to 2021 census data cited in reports, the base had 1,310 military and civilian personnel. The nearby town of Wainwright has a population of approximately 6,600. Authorities have yet to disclose the cause of the fire or the exact number of casualties.