A serious incident that caused a major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has resulted in fatalities and injuries, Canada’s Defence Minister, David McGuinty, said.
McGuinty disclosed this while speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Saturday, describing the incident as tragic but providing no details on the number of people killed or injured or the cause of the incident.
He said the fire was still burning on Saturday evening, adding that he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory.
The Canadian military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government was working closely with the Alberta provincial government and local authorities in response to the situation.
General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, said the Canadian Armed Forces were fully engaged with federal, provincial and local authorities.
“Our priority remains the welfare of our members, their families and their community,” she said.
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The municipality of Wainwright said on social media that the fire had spread beyond the base’s perimeter fence into a nearby district. However, no evacuation orders had been issued.
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, located in east-central Alberta, is about 210 kilometres east of Edmonton.
According to 2021 census data, the base had 1,310 military and civilian personnel, while the nearby town of Wainwright has a population of approximately 6,600.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the incident as investigations continue.
