Deadly Fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright Kills Four Service Members, Injures Dozens

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Sunday that 39 people were hospitalized following a deadly fire at a Canadian military base, with at least 19 in critical condition.

Smith stated that patients were transferred from Canadian Forces Base Wainwright to four hospitals across Alberta. She noted that some victims sustained severe burns and may require weeks or months of intensive care.

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed earlier that four service members were killed in the blaze, which erupted Saturday during military training. He described it as one of the worst peacetime tragedies to strike Canada’s military on domestic soil.

Fire crews responded late Saturday as strong winds drove flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright into the surrounding rural area. The Canadian military said Sunday there were no indications of terrorism, though the cause remains under investigation.

In a televised address, Carney said the families of the deceased had been notified and that the situation remains fluid.

Carney said the service members who were killed and injured were taking part in military training when the fire broke out Saturday.

He said flags would fly at half-staff on federal buildings across the country in honor of those affected by the tragedy.

Carney said those affected included reservists and soldiers from Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, one of Canada’s most storied regiments. The personnel had traveled from bases across the country to train at Wainwright.

The exact number of injured was not immediately clear. Alberta health officials said patients from Wainwright were transferred to four hospitals: two in Edmonton, one in Red Deer, and one in Calgary.

Cathy Keane, a mayoral candidate in Ontario, said her eldest son was among the critically injured military personnel. “As a mother, right now I need to be with my son and family,” she wrote on Facebook, adding that she was traveling to Alberta.

A doctor at an Edmonton hospital, 180 kilometers (112 miles) northwest, told Canada’s national broadcaster that patients were taken to hospitals across the city as healthcare facilities near the base became “completely overwhelmed” by the number of people requiring care.

“This number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,” said Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in an interview with CBC News. “It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It’s a disaster. It’s a one-in-15- to 25-year event.”

Alberta health officials said Sunday they had ended the “Code Orange” emergency activated at several hospitals following the fire. The designation allows hospitals to mobilize staff and free up beds to handle large numbers of seriously injured patients.

The province said the response involved 22 ground ambulances, six airplanes, and two helicopters, with assistance from neighboring Saskatchewan.

Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said the town’s small hospital was not designed to handle a mass-casualty incident, but he praised the response of local medical personnel. He said helicopters and planes had been transporting patients to other facilities for treatment.

Pugh said military medical personnel parachuted into Wainwright shortly before midnight, their red parachutes illuminated by flares, as reinforcements arrived to assist with the disaster response.

At least 10 ambulances were parked in and around the Wainwright health center late Saturday as paramedics and soldiers rushed about. One patient was seen being loaded into an ambulance.

The town of Wainwright, near the base, is home to about 7,000 residents.

Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident, describing the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” He said authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to provide further information.

McGuinty said Sunday he was traveling to Edmonton to be briefed on the latest developments. He said the military was working closely with Alberta’s government and local authorities.

The Canadian Armed Forces had said it would not release casualty figures until relatives were notified. Carney said Sunday that the families of the four service members killed had been informed.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said officers were called shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base.

Firefighters faced a volatile situation. Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kph (62 mph). The wind toppled trees, sent signs flying, and rolled garbage cans down streets.

By 11 p.m., the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media that the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected. There was no evacuation order for residents.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, McGuinty confirmed the casualties but had no other details to share.

“I cannot recall such an incident in my short time as a minister, nor can I recall anything like this in recent memory,” McGuinty said.

“We will have more to say in the coming hours and days,” he added.

He said Armed Forces members were at the scene and that the RCMP were also involved. “This is an active and delicate situation, and soon to be an active and delicate investigation.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta but did not specify what resources were being deployed.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting many military personnel.

She said Alberta had convened its emergency management cabinet committee to coordinate the response.

Carney praised emergency crews who battled the fire through the night and said STARS air ambulance helicopters had flown in from Edmonton and Saskatoon.

CFB Wainwright is one of Canada’s busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It is home to the Canadian Maneuver Training Center, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training.

Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defense minister to offer support to those affected by the fire.

“Pray for Wainwright, everyone,” Poilievre said in a social media post. He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.

The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday’s referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada. Elections Alberta said the advance polling location at Wainwright Communiplex closed early Saturday, and ballots and election materials were transported securely. It identified polling locations in Lloydminster and Vermilion as alternatives.

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