CANADIAN DEFENCE MINISTER REPORTS DEATHS AT WAINWRIGHT BASE

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said people had died and others had been injured in an incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday. He gave no casualty figures and did not say what had happened at the base. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the incident had caused a major fire. The municipality of Wainwright said a fire that began near the base spread rapidly in high winds and crossed into the Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61. The municipality said emergency responders were assessing the situation and had issued no evacuation order.

Canadian Forces Base Wainwright lies about 180 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. It houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Wainwright said early reports placed a fire in a training area. The police said they had sent “numerous resources” to help and that their initial involvement was winding down. Alberta MP and Canadian Army reservist Dane Lloyd described the casualties as “significant” in a social media post.

McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence and the federal government were working with provincial and local authorities to establish what happened and provide support. He said he “cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory”. Carney said his thoughts were with those affected and that he was in close contact with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Smith said her government was also in contact with Carney. Authorities had not announced a cause for the incident or a confirmed casualty total.