In brief
A massive blaze erupted Saturday night at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, killing four armed forces members and injuring 39 others. The fire began on a grassy training field and, under unusually strong winds, rushed to a live‑fire range where soldiers were conducting exercises. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s forces and called for national mourning. Military and emergency responders worked until dawn to contain the blaze, while helicopters and ambulances from across Alberta rushed the injured to hospitals.
On Saturday night a devastating fire erupted within Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in east‑central Alberta, leaving four soldiers dead and dozens more wounded.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s forces and called on the nation to mourn the fallen.
The blaze began near a grassy training area and, under unusually strong winds, moved rapidly through a grenade and attack range where soldiers were conducting high‑intensity live‑fire training.
Thirty‑nine people were transported to hospitals; at least nineteen remained in critical condition, according to Premier Danielle Smith.
Fire, rescue and combat teams worked through the night to contain flare‑ups, while helicopters and ground ambulances from Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon flew wounded troops to medical facilities.
Military officials stressed that the fire was not linked to terrorism or any external interference, and investigations continue to identify the spark.
The incident overwhelmed local emergency services and prompted the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton to activate a code orange response before standing it down later in the day.
For further details, visit the official BBC coverage at BBC News.
