4 dead after large fire breaks out at Canadian military base, officials say
Canada's defense minister said four service members were killed, and dozens of others were wounded, in an incident at a military base that caused a major fire.
Key points
- Four service members died and dozens were seriously wounded in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said 39 patients were hospitalized and at least 19 were in critical condition.
- Major-General Wade Rutland said a grass fire broke out during a training exercise and spread quickly.
Four service members were killed and dozens of others were seriously wounded in an incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta that caused a major fire, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday. Carney said he had asked for a detailed account and formal briefing from officials at the site, expected later on Sunday.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said 39 patients remained hospitalized and at least 19 were in critical condition. Patients were moved from the base to four hospitals across Alberta, some with severe burns that could require weeks or months of intensive treatment.
How the fire started
Major-General Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, said a grass fire broke out during a training exercise and spread quickly, crossing "established fire guards" before being contained with help from local authorities. He said the cause is still under investigation and that multiple training activities were taking place across the area at the time.
Rutland said reports of explosions were not believed to have come from the fire reaching oil and gas infrastructure or from outside interference. Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) an hour hit large areas of the province that day. By 11 p.m., the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media the fire was being held and property and critical infrastructure were protected, with no evacuation order for residents.
It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It's a disaster.
— Dr. Warren Thirsk
Response and investigation
Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation, which he described as "very, very active and delicate." He said he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory. The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response, and the nearby community of Wainwright provided hospital and firefighting support.
Carney said the federal government was working closely with Alberta officials and that he and Smith were in close contact. Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defense minister to offer support, and urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.
