'Serious incident' at Canada base causes deaths, sparks fire

Four soldiers were killed and dozens injured in a fire at a military base in western Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Sunday, October 18.

"It is with deep sadness that I can confirm, at this time, that four service members have lost their lives and that their loved ones have been notified," Carney said of the incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in western Alberta province, adding that "dozens of others have been seriously injured."

A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, about 200 kilometers northwest of the base, told public broadcaster CBC that Wainwright's healthcare facilities were "completely overwhelmed" by the number of patients requiring care.

The Municipal District of Wainwright posted on social media that the fire had "spread rapidly due to high winds." It said later on Saturday that the blaze was "being held at this time," though firefighting crews would continue to monitor the area. Carney said the government was working closely with Alberta officials and local authorities. "Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected," he said on X.

The fire also disrupted advanced voting ahead of Monday's referendum on a future poll on whether Alberta wants independence from Canada. Alberta's office responsible for overseeing provincial elections said the advance voting station in Wainwright had closed.