Fatalities as 'serious incident' causes fire at Canadian military base

Fatalities and injuries reported after a fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta.

The full report

A fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta has resulted in fatalities and injuries, according to Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty. The incident occurred at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, with the blaze starting at around 4pm on Saturday, local time. Authorities are still working to determine the cause of the fire and expect to provide further information soon.

The fire caused a major blaze that spread beyond the base and into the surrounding rural area, with fierce winds whipping flames. Fire crews scrambled late into the night to contain the fire, with large areas of the province hit by a windstorm with gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour.

A doctor at a hospital in Edmonton, 180km north-west of the base, described the situation as a "one in every 15- to 25-year disaster". The doctor, Warren Thirsk, said patients were being brought to hospitals across the city as healthcare facilities around the base became "completely overwhelmed" by the number of people needing treatment.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are involved in investigating the incident, with Defense Minister David McGuinty describing the situation as "very, very active and delicate". The RCMP said officers were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base.