Carney says 4 killed, dozens hurt in Wainwright Base fire

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday, Oct. 18, that four service members were killed and dozens more seriously injured in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta. He called it "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime". The official count is lower than earlier media reports. Global News, citing multiple military sources, had reported at least seven dead. CBC News also said its sources put the toll at seven.afp.com+2

Carney said the families of those killed had been notified and the situation was still evolving. Senior officials are expected to give a fuller account later on Sunday.kltv.com

Cause under investigation

The fire started in the base's training area at about 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 17, and spread quickly beyond its boundaries. The Department of National Defence said there is no indication of terrorism. Canadian Armed Forces sources told Global News that a live-fire training exercise hit a gas line or gas well, causing an explosion. Officials have not confirmed that account. Wind gusts of up to 100 km/h pushed the fire across the base fence before the municipality said around midnight that it was being held.ctvnews.ca+1

Defence Minister David McGuinty first confirmed deaths and injuries on Saturday night. He said the RCMP was involved in the investigation and added, "I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory".cbc.ca

Hospitals overwhelmed

Acute Care Alberta said several hospitals across the province activated a Code Orange, which is declared for mass-casualty events. It said very few ambulances were left in the Edmonton area. STARS Air Ambulance sent crews from Edmonton and Saskatoon. One of its helicopters landed at the University of Alberta Hospital, which houses the city's burn unit. Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency physician at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital, told CBC News: "It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It's a disaster".leaderlive.co.uk+2

National mourning

Carney ordered flags on federal buildings lowered to half-staff. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the fire "significant and tragic". The fire also closed an advance polling station in Wainwright on Saturday, two days before Monday's Alberta referendum. CFB Wainwright is about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton and is one of Canada's busiest training bases. It is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre.globalnews.ca+1