Wildfire at Alberta military base kills four and leaves 19 critical
A wildfire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta killed four military personnel and injured dozens after strong winds drove the flames across a training area at extraordinary speed. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s armed forces; officials have ruled out terrorism as a suspected cause.
The blaze began at about 16:00 on Saturday while infantry members were training with live munitions. A senior commander said the fire travelled one kilometre in 30 to 60 seconds after the wind shifted. Of 39 injured people receiving hospital care, at least 19 were in critical condition. The cause remains under investigation, which may take at least a month.
- Four Canadian service members died in a fast-moving base fire.
- Strong winds drove flames a kilometre in under a minute.
- At least 19 of 39 hospitalised injured people were critical.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Deadly fire at Canada military base moved a kilometre ‘in 30 to 60 seconds’”.