A fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright on Saturday killed four Canadian soldiers and injured dozens more as they trained for a NATO deployment, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The fire broke out in a training area shortly after 4 p.m. during fierce winds, and the cause remains under investigation, though the military said there were no indications of terrorism.
Carney, in a televised address, said the soldiers were participating in military training when the fire started. He confirmed four deaths and said the wounded were being treated in Wainwright, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary. The exact number of injured was not immediately clear.
Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, told CBC News that patients were taken to hospitals across the city as facilities around the base became “completely overwhelmed.” He described the situation as “a disaster” and “a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster.”
Emergency medical resources were stretched so thin that extremely few ambulances were available in the Edmonton area, and officials urged people to avoid the University of Alberta Hospital emergency department if possible. Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said the town’s small hospital was not designed for a mass-casualty incident but praised local medical personnel. Helicopters and planes transported patients to other facilities, and at least 10 ambulances were parked at the Wainwright health center late Saturday.
The fire spread beyond the base into surrounding rural areas as winds gusted up to 100 kph (62 mph). By 11 p.m., the Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire was being held and property and critical infrastructure were protected. No evacuation order was issued for residents.
Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” He said he could not recall “such an incident in recent memory.” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending unspecified assistance, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the fire “significant and tragic.”
CFB Wainwright is one of Canada’s busiest military training bases, home to the Canadian Maneuver Training Center and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, where soldiers prepare for combat operations, including NATO missions.
Flags will fly at half-staff on federal buildings across Canada in honor of those affected, Carney said. The investigation continues, and McGuinty said authorities expect to provide more information in the coming hours and days.
Sources: Military.com · US Army