Deaths, injuries as fire hits Alberta military base: McGuinty

WAINWRIGHT — Defence Minister David McGuinty says there have been deaths and injuries after a fire broke out Saturday at a military base in Alberta.

Fire crews scrambled late into the night as fierce winds whipped flames beyond CFB Wainwright, a massive military training base located 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

McGuinty, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, confirmed the casualties but had no other details to share, including numbers or what happened.

“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.

“At this time, our thoughts are with the families and with everyone impacted by this tragic event.”

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.”

RCMP said in a statement that officers were called just after 4 p.m.

“Early reports were that there was a fire at a training area,” police said.

In Wainwright late Saturday, at 10 least ambulances were seen parked in and around the local health centre, red lights flashing in the darkness.

Paramedics and soldiers rushed about. One patient was seen being loaded into an ambulance.

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan said the Armed Forces was dealing with a “serious incident” but also didn’t provide details.

“Our priority remains the welfare of our members, their families and their community, and my thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.”

Alberta Conservative MP Dane Lloyd posted on social media there had been an explosion and a fire that “resulted in significant casualties.”

Acute Care Alberta said late Saturday that significant medical resources were needed to respond to the incident and that a “Code Orange” had been activated at several hospitals across the province.

It said the code is declared when health resources need to be co-ordinated to respond “to an incident that results in multiple severe patients needing care at the same time.”

The agency advised those in the Edmonton area to avoid going to the University of Alberta Hospital’s emergency department and called on those with non-emergency issues to consider other care options.

“At this time, extremely few (Emergency Health Services-Alberta) response (units) are available in the Edmonton-area, and acute capacity is finite in several communities across Alberta.”

As McGuinty delivered the news, fire crews were battling flames raging between the base and the nearby town of Wainwright, which has about 7,000 people.

Firefighters faced a volatile situation. Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kilometres an hour. The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.

By 11 p.m. the Municipal District of Wainwright, on social media, announced the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected. There was no evacuation order for residents.

“A fire watch will remain in place to monitor the affected area and address any changing conditions,” said the statement.

The fire also disrupted advance voting for Monday’s provincial referendum on whether Alberta should hold a binding separation vote. Elections Alberta said two advance polling locations — in Lloydminster and Vermilion — were closed early and the ballots transported securely.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post that he was in close contact with Premier Danielle Smith

“Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” he said.

In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe said his province is sending help.

STARS air ambulance reported sending two helicopters, from Edmonton and Saskatoon.

B.C. Premier David Eby said his government has also reached out to offer help.

CFB Wainwright is one of Canada’s busiest and is used mainly to train soldiers and prepare units for combat operations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.

— with files from Jack Farrell in Edmonton