Fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright Claims Lives and Injures Soldiers

A large fire that broke out in the evening near Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, the country’s busiest training installation, has killed at least one person and left several others wounded. The blaze, which first drew attention around 5:30 p.m. local time, rapidly spread under high winds, tore through the base’s perimeter fence and engulfed a number of training structures.

"I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory," Defence Minister David McGuinty told reporters, calling the situation "very, very active and delicate." Prime Minister Mark Carney tweeted his thoughts on the "serious incident creating a major fire," reaching out to the men and women affected by the disaster.

Canadian Forces personnel are working with local fire and police units to control the fire and investigate its origin. Emergency responders are asking residents of the Municipal District of Wainwright to stay clear of the area and to give all vehicles full right of way. No official casualty figure has been released, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.