At least seven people have died following a fire at a major military base in Alberta, western Canada.
Emergency services hurried to Canadian Forces Base Wainwright as fierce wind propelled flames to the surrounding rural areas in what was described as a ‘one in 25 years disaster’.
Casualties have been taken to various hospitals in the city of Edmonton, some 120 miles from the base, as local health facilities became overwhelmed following the incident.
Mark Carney Canadian prime minister wrote on X: ‘Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected.
‘We are working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities. Premier [Danielle] Smith and I are in close contact as are our relevant ministers and officials.’
Defense Minister David McGuinty said mounted police were assessing the ‘very, very active and delicate’ situation and trying to ascertain the cause.
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According to reports, a fire had broken out at around 4pm in a training area at the base in Wainwright, a town home to just 7,000 residents, who were not evacuated.
The blaze was accelerated by strong 100-kph winds, which also blew down trees and sent bins rolling down roads.
Danielle Smith, Alberta’s premier, said the incident had affected many ‘brave’ military personnel and called the news ‘significant and tragic’.
Emergency services said the fire was under control by 11pm with critical infrastructure successfully protected.
Dr Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, said the number of patients was enough even to overwhelm the city.
He told Canadian outlet CBC: ‘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.’
Alberta was this weekend voting in a referendum to decide whether the province should start a process that could lead to accession from Canada.
Authorities said two polling stations in Lloydminster and Vermilion had been closed early on Saturday, ahead of Monday’s count.
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