Four people died in a fast-moving fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta, officials said. The blaze, fueled by strong winds, spread rapidly and injured dozens more. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the Canadian military.
The fire broke out during high-intensity combat training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright on Saturday. Winds up to 96 km/h fed the blaze, which spread a kilometre in 30 to 60 seconds. Eighty-four soldiers were in combat training when the fire started, with four killed and 39 injured.
Officials say the fire is under investigation, with no known cause. The incident has led to a mass-casualty medical response and coordination between federal, provincial, and local authorities. The Canadian military is working to notify families and provide support to those affected.
The fire occurred during training for deployment to Latvia, and officials have ruled out external interference. The base, which houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, is in a prairie setting with no evacuation orders issued.