ALBERTA, Canada- A major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has left people dead and injured, prompting a joint response by military, police and local emergency teams.
Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed the deaths and injuries on Saturday but did not disclose how many people had been killed or wounded.
He also did not say what caused the incident at the base, describing the situation as “very, very active and delicate.”
The Canadian military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating.
The fire was reported at about 4pm local time on Saturday at a training range within the base.
Strong winds helped push it beyond the military property and into the surrounding Municipal District of Wainwright, drawing in emergency crews from several jurisdictions.
In its latest reported update, local authorities said the wildfire was being held and that a fire watch would continue.
No evacuation order had been issued, but residents were urged to avoid the area and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.
The incident has disrupted activity in the nearby community.
Elections Alberta closed an advance voting location in Wainwright after the fire spread into the municipal district.
The agency said high winds had caused the blaze to move quickly across the area.
The base is in east-central Alberta, about 180 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
It is one of Canada’s key army training centres and hosts the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre.
Soldiers use the facility for field training and preparation for operations, making the incident a serious emergency for both military personnel and the surrounding community.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government was working with Alberta’s government and local authorities. Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, said the armed forces were fully engaged in the response, with the welfare of military members, their families and the community the priority.
The scale of the emergency placed pressure on medical services.
The Associated Press reported that injured people were being taken to hospitals, while a physician in Edmonton told Canadian broadcaster CBC that hospitals in the region were overwhelmed by the number of patients needing care.
The exact number of injured people had not been officially released.
Officials have not confirmed whether the fire was caused by an explosion or another event.
While reports described an explosion, authorities had not publicly established the cause as investigations began.
The minister said the fire was still burning Saturday evening, and warned that the situation remained sensitive.
The incident is unfolding at a base that plays a central role in Canada’s army training system.
Its training ranges support exercises for troops from across the country, and its location near the town of Wainwright means an emergency there can involve military personnel, local residents and multiple levels of government.
