Air ambulances converged on an Alberta military base Saturday as a fast moving fire tore across Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, drawing statements from the country’s most senior political leaders and prompting the Prime Minister to call the event a tragedy.
According to the Canadian Armed Forces, the fire was first reported on a range at the base around 16:00 on October 17 before pushing past the boundary of the training area. Emergency services were dispatched to respond.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa is coordinating with the Government of Alberta and local authorities. He added that he and Premier Danielle Smith remain in close contact, along with relevant ministers and officials.
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Many military personnel were affected by what Smith described as a significant and tragic fire. Defence Minister David McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces had briefed him on the major incident, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he reached out to both Carney and the Minister of Defence to offer support.
High winds drove the blaze across the base fence earlier in the day, according to the Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61, which placed the active fire area south of Township Road 44-0. Crews from multiple jurisdictions, including Lloydminster, joined the response. The district set up an Emergency Coordination Centre, and no evacuation order was in place.
Edmonton and Saskatoon-based aircraft responded to a scene call in the Wainwright area, STARS air ambulance confirmed. Flight tracking showed a medivac outfitted King Air operated by Alberta Central Airways departing Lac La Biche and landing at CFB Wainwright.
The cause of the fire and the number of people affected remain unknown. Residents were urged to avoid the area and to stay away from the Wainwright Health Centre unless they have a critical medical need.
This is a developing story.
