Canada reports 'fatalities and injuries' following incident at military base

A major fire caused deaths and injuries at one of Canada’s busiest military bases on Saturday, sparked by an unspecified “serious incident.” The fire began at the base in Wainwright, a town in eastern Alberta province, according to officials, and “spread rapidly due to high winds,” said the municipal district in a Facebook post Saturday evening. A call for assistance came around 4 p.m., according to the Wainwright Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Defense Minister David McGuinty said in a video statement “that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base.” He did not provide details about the number of casualties or what caused the initial blaze, but called it an “active and delicate situation” and said an investigation would be launched soon.

Late Saturday night, the municipal district said the fire was “being held at this time,” though fire crews will continue to monitor the area. CFB Wainwright, located about 210 kilometers (130 miles) southeast of provincial capital Edmonton, is one of the country’s busiest Army bases, according to a government website. It houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre.

It’s also a training ground for Army field force units based in Edmonton. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the fire had stemmed from “a serious incident,” without specifying details. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a Forever Canadian rally in Calgary, Alberta, on October 15.

Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press/AP A code orange, which designates an emergency response protocol for a high number of patients, has been declared in Edmonton, according to CNN’s newsgathering partner CBC, citing emergency department physician Dr. Warren Thirsk at the city’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. “It’s a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster,” he said, adding that Wainwright’s healthcare centers have been “completely overwhelmed.” Patients are now being diverted to hospitals across Edmonton.

CNN has reached out to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, other Edmonton health centers, and Alberta Health Services for comment. CNN has also reached out to the military base, the Wainwright fire department, the Alberta premier’s office, and the municipal district. The Canadian Armed Forces, the federal government, provincial and local authorities are cooperating “to mobilize all necessary support, …

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said a "serious incident creating a major fire" had occurred at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.