People were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire, Canada’s defense minister said, while large numbers of injured people were being transported to hospitals, reports said.
Fire crews scrambled late into the night as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.
It was not immediately clear how many people were killed or injured, but a doctor at a hospital in Edmonton told Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) that people were being brought to hospitals across the city as healthcare facilities around the base became “completely overwhelmed” by the number of people needing care.
Paramedics load an injured person into an ambulance at the Wainwright Health Centre as injured military members are treated after a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright outside of Wainwright, Alberta, on Saturday.
Photo: AP
“This number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,” Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency department doctor Warren Thirsk told CBC News. “It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It’s a disaster. It’s a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster.”
The town of Wainwright, near the base, has about 7,000 residents.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident, Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty said, describing the situation as “very, very active and delicate.”
Authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to provide further information, he said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said officers were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base.
Firefighters faced a volatile situation. Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100kph. The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.
By 11pm, the Municipal District of Wainwright wrote on social media that the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected.
There was no evacuation order for residents.
McGuinty, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, confirmed the casualties but shared no other details.
“I cannot recall such an incident in my short time for sure as a minister, but I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,” McGuinty said.
“We will have more to say in the coming hours and days,” he added.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta, but did not specify what resources were being deployed.
“Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on social media.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting many military personnel.
The Wainwright base is one of Canada’s busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training.
The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of today’s referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada.
Elections Alberta said two polling locations, in Lloydminster and Vermilion, closed early on Saturday and the ballots were transported securely.