Overview
- A large fire began in a training area at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and crossed the base perimeter after gusty winds fanned flames, officials said.
- The blaze started around 4 p.m. on Saturday and prompted a multi‑agency emergency response that included military, municipal and provincial crews.
- Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed there have been fatalities and injuries but the Canadian Armed Forces said it will not release casualty figures until identification and next‑of‑kin notifications are complete.
- Hospitals in Edmonton activated mass‑casualty protocols as patients were moved from local facilities and emergency services described area hospitals as overwhelmed by the number of injured.
- The cause remains under active investigation by the RCMP while multiple outlets, citing unnamed sources, have reported an unverified theory that a live‑fire exercise struck gas infrastructure; that account has not been confirmed by authorities.