Canadian officials have confirmed that there were both fatalities and injuries resulting from a significant incident that caused a major fire at one of the country’s busiest military bases on Saturday.
Defense Minister David McGuinty acknowledged the occurrence at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, an essential Army training facility, although he didn’t specify the exact number of victims.
“I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” he stated during a press briefing.
McGuinty noted that as of Saturday evening, the fire was still ongoing. He expressed surprise, saying, “I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory.”
According to the municipality of Wainwright, the blaze had spread beyond the military base’s boundaries, affecting the surrounding area. Fortunately, local officials reported no evacuation orders were issued.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the situation in a message, stating, “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.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith referred to the event as a “significant and tragic fire” that impacted military personnel stationed at the facility.
The Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and local emergency responders were all involved in managing the incident, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
McGuinty added that collaboration between the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and municipal governments was underway to mobilize necessary support.
Located about 130 miles east of Edmonton, Canadian Forces Base Wainwright had around 1,310 military and civilian personnel in 2021, based on census figures. The nearby town of Wainwright has a population of about 6,600.
As for the cause of the incident, no details have been disclosed yet.
