Carney confirms four service members killed, dozens injured in CFB Wainwright fire

Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that four service members were killed and dozens seriously injured in Saturday’s fire at CFB Wainwright, Alberta, CNN reported.

In a Sunday televised address, Carney said: “Yesterday afternoon, a violent, fast-moving fire swept through Canadian Armed Forces Base in Wainwright, Alberta,” adding: “What followed was one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime,” per AP reports carried by the Times of Israel and Fox News.

The next of kin of the four dead have been informed. “The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost,” Carney said; flags on all federal buildings will fly at half-mast.

The Canadian Armed Forces said the fire broke out in the base training area on Saturday afternoon and spread rapidly beyond the base’s boundaries amid high winds; the cause remains unclear. A Department of National Defence official told CBC there was no indication of terrorism.

The Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 said the fire was “being held” around 10:45pm Saturday. Edmonton declared a Code Orange, with Royal Alexandra Hospital physician Warren Thirsk telling CBC that hospitals were “completely overwhelmed”.

Those caught in the fire included reservists and soldiers of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and personnel from bases across the country training at Wainwright. The wounded are being treated in Wainwright, Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.

Officials on the ground were expected to deliver a detailed account and a formal briefing later on Sunday.