4 dead, dozens injured by fire at Canadian army base

Four people have been killed and dozens more seriously injured after a “violent, fast-moving” fire tore through one of Canada’s busiest military training bases in Alberta, Canada’s prime minister said on Sunday.

Mark Carney called the incident “one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime”.

The fire and subsequent explosion moved quickly because of high winds.

“The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost. And I have asked the flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-mast to honour them,” Carney told the nation in an address from Ottawa. “We are praying for the wounded.”

On Saturday night, the Defense Minister described the situation at CFB Wainwright as “active and delicate,” with the fire being monitored very closely.

“I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,” McGuinty said, adding that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were involved in the investigation.

Canada’s top soldier, Gen Jennie Carignan, who serves as chief of the defense staff, called the incident “a profoundly difficult moment for the entire Canadian armed forces”.