Fire at Alberta's CFB Wainwright Military Base Leaves Dead and Injured

A major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has killed and injured people, Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty said Saturday. He did not say how many people were affected or what caused the blaze, and officials said the situation was still developing.

The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday's Alberta referendum on whether to begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada, according to ABC News.

What officials have confirmed so far

McGuinty told a news conference Saturday night that he was saddened to report both deaths and injuries from an incident on the base. He called the situation "very, very active and delicate," and said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation. He added that he could not recall a comparable incident in recent memory, according to The Guardian and the BBC.

The RCMP said officers were called shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday after reports of a fire in a training area of the base, ABC News reported. The BBC said it was unclear exactly when the fire began, noting that the Municipal District of Wainwright first posted about it at about 17:30 local time.

Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on social media that a serious incident creating a major fire had occurred at the base and that his thoughts were with those affected. He said the federal government was working closely with Alberta officials and that he and Premier Danielle Smith were in close contact. Smith called the fire significant and tragic and said it was affecting many military personnel.

How the fire spread and who is responding

The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire crossed the base's perimeter fence and was spreading rapidly in high winds. The Guardian reported that a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kilometers an hour hit large parts of Alberta during the day, toppling some trees.

Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect, according to the district. The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the response, McGuinty said, with the nearby community of Wainwright providing hospital and firefighting support.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending help to Alberta without specifying what. According to the BBC, he said he was ready to provide more if needed. British Columbia Premier David Eby said his government had reached out to Alberta to offer all possible assistance.

The Guardian cited an emergency physician at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra hospital, Dr. Warren Thirsk, who told CBC that Wainwright's health facilities had become "completely overwhelmed." He said patients were being taken to hospitals across Edmonton and described the situation as a disaster. Edmonton is about 180 kilometers (112 miles) from the base.

About the base

CFB Wainwright is one of Canada's busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which runs realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre. The BBC, citing CBC, said it is the principal base for live-fire training exercises and that about 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers are on site on a typical day.

Why it matters for people in the area and for Monday's vote

For residents near the base, local authorities have urged people to avoid the area and to give emergency vehicles right of way. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.

For voters, Elections Alberta said two polling locations, in Lloydminster and Vermilion, closed early Saturday during advance voting and that the ballots were transported securely. The agency's statement, as reported by ABC News, did not address any further changes to voting.

For the military community, the number of people hurt or killed has not been released, and Smith said many military personnel were affected.

What is still unknown

Officials have not disclosed the number of dead and injured, the identities of those affected, or the cause of the fire. McGuinty said authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to release more information.

Sources: ABC News, The Guardian, BBC News