A major fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta has left some people dead and others injured, Defence Minister David McGuinty has confirmed, although the authorities have yet to disclose the exact number of casualties.
The blaze broke out at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, a major military training facility, prompting the Canadian Armed Forces to work alongside local authorities to contain the fire and investigate its cause.
McGuinty described the situation as “very, very active and delicate”, adding that he “cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory”.
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney also acknowledged the incident in a post on X, describing it as a “serious incident creating a major fire”.
He added that his “thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected”.
The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire spread rapidly on Saturday because of strong winds, eventually crossing the base’s perimeter fences.
Although the exact time the fire started remains unclear, the district first issued a public update at approximately 17:30 local time (23:30 GMT).
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is among the country’s busiest military training installations.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it serves as “the principal base for live fire training exercises”.
Approximately 690 military personnel and 300 civilian employees are normally present at the facility on a regular day.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the incident as a “significant and tragic fire”, saying it was “affecting many of [the province’s] brave military personnel”.
Smith added that provincial officials were working with the federal government to coordinate the response and investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
Authorities have appealed to residents to stay away from the affected area and allow emergency vehicles to move freely as firefighters and other responders continue their operations.
Support has also come from neighbouring provinces as Alberta deals with the emergency.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he had deployed resources to assist Alberta and was “ready to provide more if required”.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also confirmed that his government had contacted Alberta to offer assistance, saying it had “reached out to Alberta to offer all possible assistance”.
The authorities have yet to provide further details about the victims or establish what caused the fire.
