Several people have been killed or injured in a large fire near Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, according to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The full impact of the incident is still being assessed, and further details on casualties will be made public later.
The fire broke out around 16:00 local time on Saturday at one of Canada’s busiest military training bases. Global News reported that at least seven people died and dozens were injured when a gas line was struck during a live-fire training exercise, citing unnamed military sources.
Defence Minister David McGuinty described the situation as “very, very active and delicate” and confirmed that the CAF, along with local authorities, was handling the fire. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his thoughts for those affected.
Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton declared a code orange—a disaster response protocol—due to the incident. Emergency department doctor Warren Thirsk mentioned that the number of patients could overwhelm local healthcare facilities, calling it “a disaster” and a rare event.
The fire quickly spread, helped by high winds, according to the Municipal District of Wainwright. Gusts reached up to 100km/h (62mph), but local officials reported that crews had contained the blaze.
McGuinty noted that he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory. Local authorities have advised residents to stay away from the area and give emergency services priority.
Bruce Pugh, the mayor of Wainwright, called it a “heavy day” for the community, which includes serving and former members of the CAF. He added that this could be the largest mass casualty event in the area’s history.
