Deadly fire at Canada's Wainwright military base; at least seven reported dead
A fast-spreading fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has killed and injured several people, Canada's defence minister said. Global News, citing military sources, reported at least seven dead and dozens hurt.
A major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, one of the country's busiest military training sites, in the western province of Alberta, has left several people dead or injured, Defence Minister David McGuinty said. He described the situation as "very active and delicate", declined to confirm the cause or the number of victims, and said he could not recall a comparable incident in recent memory.
Canadian broadcaster Global News, citing unnamed military sources, reported that at least seven people were killed and dozens more injured after a gas line or gas well was struck during a live-fire training exercise. That account has not yet been officially confirmed by the authorities.
According to the local municipal district, the fire broke out on Saturday and spread quickly in winds gusting up to 100 km/h, burning through the base's perimeter fences before crews brought it under control. In Edmonton, the Royal Alexandra Hospital declared a "code orange", the protocol used for mass-casualty events. An emergency doctor there told the CBC that without it, the number of patients would overwhelm the city's hospitals, calling it a disaster of a kind seen once every 15 to 25 years.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said a serious incident had caused a major fire and that his thoughts were with the service members affected. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called it a significant and tragic fire, while the neighbouring provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia sent or offered help.
Wainwright is the Canadian Armed Forces' main base for live-fire exercises, with about 690 military personnel and 300 civilian staff on site on a typical day. The mayor of the nearby town said the community is closely tied to the base and that the fire could become the area's largest mass-casualty event on record.