Everything we know as several killed or injured in major fire at Canadian military base
Por Holly Evans — – World RSS Feed
Everything we know as several killed or injured in major fire at Canadian military base
One doctor describes the incident as a ‘one in every 15 to 25-year disaster’
Holly Evans Sunday 18 October 2026 10:59 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Several people have been killed and many others injured after a large blaze broke out at a Canadian military base.
Emergency services have worked into the night to contain the fire, which has seen hospitals in Edmonton “overwhelmed” and has been described as a “one in every 15 to 25-year disaster”.
Reports of a fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta began at 4pm (10pm GMT), with the Canadian Armed Forces confirming a number of fatalities and injuries, with further details to come after next of kin had been informed.
Here’s everything we know about the incident:
What has happened at CFB Wainwright?
At around 4pm on Saturday (10pm GMT), a large scale fire broke out at the military base, with several people killed and injured.
Media reports, citing unnamed military sources, said that a live-fire training exercise hit a gas line or gas well on the base, causing an explosion that has spread as a result of high winds.
open image in galleryHigh wind gusts reaching up to 100km/h fanned the flames, causing the blaze to spread rapidly beyond the base’s perimeter and into the adjacent Municipal District of Wainwright.
Canada’s Armed Forces has confirmed a number of fatalities and injuries, but said no further details will be shared until next of kin had been informed and identification had taken place.
Pictures and videos on social media show a large presence of emergency services, who continue to work at the scene, as well as smoke covering the surrounding areas.
As of 11pm (5am GMT), the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media that the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected, with no evacuation order for residents.
What is CFB Wainwright?
CFB Wainwright 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.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the Nato military committee, said that Wainwright was were Canadian and Allied soldiers trained for the “hardest tasks of our profession”.
How have emergency services responded?
A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, 180km (120 miles) northwest of Wainwright, told Canada’s national broadcaster patients were being brought to hospitals across the city as its health-care facilities became “completely overwhelmed” by the number of people requiring care.
open image in gallery“This number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,” Dr Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, 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.”
A code orange alert has been called in Edmonton hospitals — signaling an external disaster or mass casualty incident (MCI).
Dr Thirsk also says that the number of patients in the situation “quickly exceeded” the threshold for calling the code.
“This wasn’t a hard decision to call a disaster code.”
What have the officials said?
Defence Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.”
He said authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to provide further information.
Mr McGuinty, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, confirmed the casualties but had no other details to share.
open image in gallery“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.
He said Armed Forces members were at the scene and that RCMP were also involved.
“This is an active and delicate situation and soon to be an active and delicate investigation,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” prime minister Mark Carney said earlier in a social media post.
Alberta premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic” and said it was affecting many military personnel.
Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defence minister to offer support to those affected by the fire.
“Pray for Wainwright, everyone,” Poilievre said in a social media post. He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.
More about
EdmontonAlbertaMark CarneyNato
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed
