Canadaupdated 51m ago2 min read
Mark Carney Says Serious Incident Sparked Fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta
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Fatalities and injuries reported after a serious incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta. A major fire broke out at CFB Wainwright amid high winds and ongoing investigation.
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Fire at CFB Wainwright
Prime Minister Mark Carney said a “serious incident” caused a major fire at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta, and he said he was in close contact with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and relevant ministers and officials.
Defense Minister David McGuinty confirmed that the incident caused “fatalities and injuries,” while he described the situation as “very, very active and delicate” and said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation.
The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire crossed the base fence earlier on Saturday and was spreading rapidly in high winds, and it said no evacuation order was in effect.
The Canadian Armed Forces were working with local authorities to manage the fire and were looking into what caused it, and the district first posted about the incident at about 17:30 local time.
CBC said a code orange was called in Edmonton hospitals, and Dr. Warren Thirsk said the number of patients “quickly exceeded” the threshold for calling the code.
Officials, RCMP, and support
David McGuinty told reporters that he “cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,” and he said the Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response.
Mark Carney wrote on X that “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” and he said the federal government was working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities.
Danielle Smith called the fire “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting many military personnel, while Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken to Carney and McGuinty to offer support.
Dr. Warren Thirsk said “This wasn’t a hard decision to call a disaster code,” and Wainwright’s hospitals were diverting patients across Edmonton.
The Municipal District of Wainwright urged residents to avoid the area so roads remained clear for emergency crews and equipment, and it said a fire watch would remain in place overnight to monitor the zone.
What is at stake next
The Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating the incident, and David McGuinty said the situation remained “very active and delicate” as officials worked through the details of what actually occurred. The fire was being managed south of Wainwright and an active fire remained burning south of Township Road 44-0, while there was no evacuation order for residents as of 7:30 p.m. Wainwright’s health-care facilities were “completely overwhelmed” by the number of patients requiring care, and code orange in Edmonton hospitals was part of the disaster response.
“There was no evacuation order for residents as of 7:30 p.m.”
CFB Wainwright had 1,310 military and civilian personnel stationed there as of 2021, and the town of Wainwright, with a population about 6,600, was just north of the base. Mark Carney said the federal government was working closely with Alberta officials and local authorities, and CBC reported that the Union of National Defence Employees president June Winger issued a message of solidarity for “the families, military personnel, civilian workers and community members impacted” by the incident.