A deadly incident has occurred at one of Canada’s busiest military bases in Alberta, leaving multiple people dead and others injured as a major fire continued to burn on Saturday.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the casualties at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, expressing sadness over the incident while authorities worked to establish what happened.
“I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident” at the base, McGuinty told reporters in Ottawa.
The minister did not disclose the number of people killed or injured, and the cause of the incident remained unknown.
He described the situation as tragic and said the scale of the fire was unusual, adding that he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory.
The fire was still burning on Saturday evening, prompting concern among authorities as investigations continued.
Military and Police Investigate Incident
The Canadian military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government was working closely with Alberta’s provincial government and local authorities in response to the situation.
General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, also confirmed that the Canadian Armed Forces were working alongside federal, provincial and local officials.
“Our priority remains the welfare of our members, their families and their community,” Carignan said.
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is located in east-central Alberta, approximately 210 kilometres east of Edmonton. Census data from 2021 showed that the facility had 1,310 military and civilian personnel.
The nearby town of Wainwright has a population of approximately 6,600 people.
Local authorities reported that the fire had spread beyond the military base’s perimeter fence into a neighbouring district. However, no evacuation orders had been issued as of Saturday.
Officials have yet to provide further details about the victims or explain what triggered the fire, as emergency responders and investigators continue working at the scene.
