Four service members killed in fire at Canadian base in Alberta
A fast-moving fire swept through Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday, killing at least four service members and seriously injuring dozens. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst peacetime tragedies in Canadian military history; the cause is still under investigation.
The fire began at about 16:00 local time, with high winds reported to have helped it spread. Local media suggested a gas main may have been struck during a live firing exercise, but authorities have not confirmed this and say there is no indication of terrorism. A major emergency response in Edmonton lasted 10 hours and involved 22 ambulances and eight aircraft; the base can house more than 1,000 people.
- Four service members died and dozens were seriously injured.
- The fire spread rapidly at a busy Alberta training base.
- Authorities are investigating its cause.
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Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is a large military training site in Alberta, used by Canadian troops for exercises, including live firing. The base can house more than 1,000 people and is part of Canada’s armed forces, which are responsible for the country’s defence.
Canada’s prime minister is Mark Carney, while military and emergency services handle incidents at the base. Fires at training sites can endanger service members and others nearby, and their causes may take time to establish while investigators examine what happened.
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Originally published by BBC World as “What we know so far about deadly fire at Canadian military base”.