Fatalities and injuries have been reported after a major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, Canada's defence minister said on Saturday.
Defence Minister David McGuinty described the situation at CFB Wainwright as “active and delicate”, with the fire being monitored very closely. “I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,” he said at a press conference, adding that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation.
Local facilities overwhelmed
McGuinty did not provide casualty figures or details about what caused the incident. The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response, he said. The nearby community of Wainwright was providing hospital and firefighting support.
A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, 180 km northwest of Wainwright, told Canada's national broadcaster that patients were being brought to hospitals across the city as Wainwright's healthcare facilities became “completely overwhelmed” by the number of people needing care.
“This number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,” Dr Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra hospital, told CBC news. “It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It's a disaster. It's a one in every 15 to 25-year disaster.”
Fire spread by high winds
In an earlier social media post, Prime Minister Mark Carney said: “A serious incident creating a major fire has occurred at CFB Wainwright, in Alberta.” “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” he said.
The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire crossed the base's fence earlier Saturday and was spreading rapidly due to high winds. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect. Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kilometers an hour. The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting many military personnel. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta but did not specify what resources were being deployed.
Base role and response
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of Canada's busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training.
Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defence minister to offer support to those affected by the fire. “Pray for Wainwright, everyone,” Poilievre said in a social media post. He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders. Neither Carney nor Smith provided details about what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured.
