A deadly incident at one of Canada’s busiest military installations sparked a major fire Saturday, leaving people dead and others injured, officials said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said a “serious incident creating a major fire” occurred Saturday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.
“Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Carney wrote on X, adding that he was coordinating closely with the Alberta government and local authorities.
Defense Minister David McGuinty confirmed during an evening news conference in Ottawa that “there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” CBC News reported.
McGuinty did not disclose the cause of the incident or the number of people killed. He said he “cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory.”
The minister said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were taking part in the investigation and described the response as “very, very active and delicate” as emergency crews continued working at the scene.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the blaze “significant and tragic,” saying it was affecting “many of our brave military personnel” in a post on X.
The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire had crossed the base’s perimeter fence and was spreading quickly amid strong winds.
Although no evacuation order had been issued, firefighters from several jurisdictions were assisting with efforts to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Authorities urged residents to avoid the area while emergency responders continued managing the active situation.
Located roughly 110 miles southeast of Edmonton, Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of the country’s main military training centers, where soldiers prepare for combat operations.
The base is home to approximately 690 military personnel and 300 civilian employees, according to CBC.
With Post wires.
