Deadly fire at CFB Wainwright not terrorism, military says
A fire that killed and injured people at CFB Wainwright spread beyond the base and triggered a code orange at several Alberta hospitals, officials said. The military has not released casualty figures pending family notifications.
Why it matters
The fire disrupted advance voting ahead of Alberta's separation referendum and required a coordinated emergency medical response across multiple hospitals.
The Canadian Armed Forces said Sunday there is no indication that a fire which broke out in a training area at CFB Wainwright on Saturday, killing and injuring people, was linked to terrorist activity. A spokesperson said the incident remains under investigation but that no such indications exist at this time.
The fire spread beyond the base southeast of Edmonton, and crews worked to stop it from reaching the town of Wainwright. Acute Care Alberta said a code orange, declared when health resources must be coordinated for multiple severe patients at once, was activated at several hospitals across the province, and at least 10 ambulances were seen near the local health centre late Saturday.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said he was travelling to Edmonton to be briefed and said he could not recall a similar incident in recent memory. The military has not confirmed casualty numbers, saying it is waiting until families are notified.
The fire also disrupted advance voting for Monday's provincial referendum on Alberta separation, forcing Elections Alberta to close polling stations in Lloydminster and Vermilion early Saturday, with ballots transported securely. CFB Wainwright is among Canada's busiest bases, used mainly to train soldiers and prepare units for combat operations.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.