Four killed, dozens injured in major fire at Canada military base
Fire spread across training area
The blaze started at about 16:00 local time on Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, roughly 210km east of Edmonton. The base is used for live-fire exercises and hosts Canadian and allied troops.
Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said strong winds carried the fire quickly toward the range’s administrative area. He described several training activities taking place at the time, with ordnance including grenades, ammunition and small arms moving through the training area.
Four personnel confirmed dead
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Officials said they did not believe it resulted from oil and gas infrastructure or outside interference, and it did not appear linked to terrorist activity.
Emergency response continues
Fire and rescue crews remained at the scene to guard against renewed flare-ups. The provincial health agency said it sent 30 units to Wainwright, including 22 ground ambulances and eight aircraft.
STARS, the regional air ambulance service, deployed aircraft and crews from Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary. Injured people were transferred to Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, which briefly activated a code orange before standing it down.
Base supports live-fire training
Wainwright is one of Canada’s main military locations for live-fire training. On a typical day, about 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers are at the base.
Key points
- Four Canadian military members died in the fire at Wainwright.
- Dozens were injured, including reservists and infantry soldiers on the attack range.
- The fire is contained, but crews remain to monitor for flare-ups.
- Officials have not determined the cause and ruled out apparent links to terrorism or outside interference.