Deaths, injuries after fire at Alberta military base: Canada minister

Defence Minister David McGuinty says radical were killed and injured, but provides nary figures oregon origin of the fire.

A deadly occurrence has breached retired astatine Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright successful Canada’s state of Alberta, a authorities curate has confirmed.

“I’m saddened to stock that determination person been some fatalities and injuries arsenic a effect of an incidental connected the base,” Minister of National Defence David McGuinty said connected Saturday.

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McGuinty did not springiness casualty figures oregon accidental what caused the occurrence astatine the subject base, but described the concern arsenic “very, precise progressive and delicate”.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are progressive successful the investigation, helium added.

The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and section authorities are coordinating the exigency response, McGuinty said.

The adjacent assemblage of Wainwright is providing infirmary and firefighting support.

The Municipal District of Wainwright said the occurrence crossed the base’s obstruction earlier connected Saturday and was spreading rapidly successful precocious winds. Firefighters from aggregate jurisdictions were responding, and nary evacuation bid was successful effect.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier that a “serious incident” had caused the fire, penning connected societal media: “Our thoughts are with each the brave women and men affected.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the occurrence “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting galore subject personnel.

Opposition Conservative person Pierre Poilievre said helium has spoken to Carney and McGuinty to connection support. “Pray for Wainwright, everyone,” helium wrote connected societal media, urging radical successful the country to travel exigency instructions and support roads wide for archetypal responders.

CFB Wainwright is astir 180km (112 miles) southeast of Edmonton and is 1 of Canada’s busiest subject grooming bases, wherever soldiers hole for combat operations.

It is location to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which runs realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre.

The occurrence comes 2 days earlier Albertans ballot connected whether the province, location to astir 5 cardinal people, should statesman the ineligible process towards a binding referendum connected seceding from Canada.

Carney utilized his Thanksgiving connection past week to telephone for nationalist unity.