An unexplained incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta sparked a major fire that spread beyond the base, causing deaths and injuries and prompting a large emergency response, officials and news organizations reported Sunday.
Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the casualties Saturday night but did not give a count or explain what happened; he said the situation was active and delicate. Global News, citing multiple military sources, reported at least seven people were killed and dozens injured, though officials had not confirmed those figures. The RCMP said officers were called shortly after 4 p.m. local time to reports of a fire in a training area, and police are involved in the investigation.
High winds helped push the blaze across the base boundary into the surrounding municipal district, where crews from multiple jurisdictions responded. Emergency services transported patients from Wainwright, and hospitals in Edmonton activated a code-orange response as they prepared for a high number of casualties. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed condolences and said governments were coordinating with responders.
The cause, official casualty total and full extent of the damage remained unclear in the latest reports, while emergency response efforts continued.