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Fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright Kills 4, Injures Dozens

10:10 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Prime Minister Mark Carney described the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta as one of the worst peace-time tragedies in Canadian military history, according to reports from the BBC (United Kingdom) and Nine (Australia).

The fire, which erupted during a live-fire combat training exercise on Saturday, killed four Canadian service members and injured 39 others, including 19 in critical condition, as reported by CBS News and Fox News.

The incident occurred at a base located approximately 120 miles from Edmonton and 180 miles from Calgary, as noted by the BBC (United Kingdom).

According to the BBC (United Kingdom) and NewsCord, the fire moved a kilometer in just 36 seconds, an unusually rapid spread that caught soldiers off guard.

Both the BBC (United Kingdom) and Nine (Australia) reported that the fire was contained by 11 p.m., with no evacuation orders issued for the town’s 7,000 residents.

Emergency department doctor Warren Thirsk at the Royal Alexandra Hospital told CBC that the number of patients involved had “completely overwhelmed” healthcare facilities in Wainwright, as reported by NewsCord and The Independent.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “heartbreaking” and said it had affected many military personnel, according to The Guardian and The Independent.

The Canadian Armed Forces stated that there were no indications that the fire was the result of any terrorist activity, as reported by NewsCord.

Defense Minister David McGuinty said the fire was started by an unspecified “serious incident,” as reported by Washingtonexaminer.

Health staff in Edmonton declared a “code orange,” or mass-casualty event, to coordinate the medical response for patients being transported from Wainwright, as reported by The Guardian.

The fire disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday’s referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada, as reported by The Independent.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were notified of the fire in a training area shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, as reported by Washingtonexaminer and Nine (Australia).

Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the fire, as reported by Fox News.

Background

What's confirmed

• Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst peace-time tragedies on Canadian soil in the history of the military.
• "It is not normal for a fire to move a kilometre in 30 to 60 seconds," he said.
• By 11 p.m., the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected.
• "It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It's a disaster. It's a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster."
• "The fire was a kilometer away when the wind shifted. That is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 36 seconds," he said at a news conference in Edmonton.
• "I cannot recall such an incident in my short time for sure as a minister, but I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory," Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty told reporters.
• Warren Thirsk, an emergency department doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, told CBC that the number of patients involved "completely overwhelmed" healthcare facilities in Wainwright.
• A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, 112 miles northwest, told Canada’s national broadcaster that patients were taken to hospitals across the city as healthcare facilities around the base became “completely overwhelmed” by the number of people needing care.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they were notified of a fire in a training area of the installation shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday.

What's still developing

• "I spoke to my commander last night, and he said within 30 seconds to a minute they saw no fire, and then there was a fire right on top of them," Rutland said.
• Earlier on this story 18 Oct: Prime Minister Mark Carney Says Fire Kills Four at CFB Wainwright in Alberta This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets.
• Acute Care Alberta said several hospitals across the province had activated a “Code Orange,” an emergency designation used when multiple severely injured patients require coordinated medical care.
• “On behalf of the government of Alberta, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and wish those who have been injured a full recovery. Our thoughts are also with the military personnel, families and colleagues facing uncertainty and grief during this incredibly difficult time,” Smith said.
• The area was already experiencing an intense windstorm that snapped trees, and officials said that by 11 p.m., the fire had been contained and critical infrastructure was protected.
• First published at 3.41am Four people have been killed and dozens more are seriously injured after a devastating fire swept through a military base in Canada.
• They were still at the scene but about 11pm on Saturday (4pm Sunday AEDT) authorities said the fire was “being held at this time”.
• “While casualty identification and notification processes are ongoing, I extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives,” She said.

Sources

• BBClink
• CBS Newslink
• Fox Newslink
• NewsCordlink
• The Independentlink
• The Guardianlink
• Washingtonexaminerlink
• Ninelink
• WarpBeat — background on Four Canadian Soldiers Killed in Alberta Military Base Fire link
• WarpBeat — background on Fire at Canadian Military Base Kills and Injures Personnel link
• NBC News — video link