Canadian military base fire kills four, leaves dozens badly hurt

Four service members were killed and dozens more seriously injured after a fire engulfed parts of Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday. BBC News reported that the blaze began at about 16:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on 17 October, with high winds helping it spread.

Carney described the disaster as among the gravest peacetime tragedies in Canada's military history. Military and civilian firefighters worked through the night in dangerous conditions to protect those at the base.

The defence ministry said investigators were still examining the cause and that there were no indications at this stage of terrorist activity.

Cause unconfirmed as authorities assess the toll

Local media reports suggested that a gas main might have been struck during a live-fire exercise. Authorities have not confirmed that account, and Carney did not identify what ignited the blaze. The Municipal District of Wainwright said strong winds had accelerated its spread.

It also remained unclear whether the injured had been on the base's training ranges or whether flames had reached accommodation areas.

Before Carney's address, Canadian media had reported seven deaths, citing unnamed military sources. His Sunday statement confirmed four service members had died; he did not say whether officials expected the toll to increase. Their names had not been released, but their families had been notified.

Major medical response in Alberta

Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton activated a code orange on Saturday evening, a protocol used to prepare for a mass-casualty emergency. The alert was lifted on Sunday afternoon.

Alberta's health service said the emergency response ran for 10 hours and involved 22 ambulances and eight aircraft. It said the injured would require intensive continuing care. A doctor speaking to Canadian public broadcaster CBC described the hospital as overwhelmed by the volume of patients.

Wainwright is a rural Alberta installation and one of the Canadian Army's busiest training bases. Its airfield also serves the Royal Canadian Air Force. The number of people at the base varies, but it can accommodate a population exceeding 1,000 at a time.