Firetrucks drive down a road in Wainright, Alta., on Sunday.Amanda Erickson/JOBFlocks
What happened at CFB Wainwright?
A fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in eastern Alberta on Saturday killed four and wounded dozens.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Sunday that in addition to four soldiers killed in the fire, 39 people were injured. Of those, she said, 19 people are in critical condition. All patients have been accounted for, and no others are awaiting transport, she said.
Early military communications viewed by The Globe say the deadly blaze began as a smoldering grass fire that was whipped into a “wall of flame” by high winds.
The flames then overtook Canadian Armed Forces members who were on a firing range, according to the reports, which were obtained by the Globe and Mail.
It remains unclear what first ignited the grass fire.
How did the fire spread?
The Department of National Defence said the incident began after a fire ignited at about 4 p.m. local time Saturday in the training area of the military base.
A report issued Saturday night says the “fire index,” a measure of risk, was low. It suggests an “unexpected and sudden wind change” took place during the incident.
“During training a grass fire ignited, and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly and shift direction; the fire shifted toward the personnel on the range and overtook their admin area,” a report from Saturday says.
A second report issued Sunday morning, describes the initial fire as “smoldering” and said it “blew over 1 kilometre” before a “wall of flame” engulfed the “administration area of the live fire training range.”
Wainwright Fire Chief Aime Smyl said about 30 firefighters were still working to put out hot spots in the area on Sunday afternoon.
Live updates about the CFB Wainwright fire
Who are the victims?
The Department of National Defence identified the four soldiers killed as Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, all of whom were based at Edmonton.
The four deceased all served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), Major-General Wade Rutland said Sunday.
Maj.-Gen. Rutland said the PPCLI soldiers were doing high-intensity preparatory combat training with live munitions, in advance of deployments to Latvia in April and May.
The incident is “one of the worst tragedies that our armed forces have experienced on Canadian soil in peacetime,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier on Sunday.
“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,” Mr. Carney said in an address from Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Mr. Carney said those affected by the fire came from military bases across the country, including reservists and soldiers from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
Cathy Keane, a mayoral candidate in Oro-Medonte, Ont., said on social media Sunday that her eldest son is among the soldiers injured in the incident, and that the family was on their way to Alberta to be with him.
“Overnight, our family received the devastating news that our eldest son is among the military personnel critically injured in the incident in Wainwright, Alberta, on Saturday,” Ms. Keane posted on Facebook.
Where is CFB Wainwright located?
The military based is located about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
Province’s oil and gas regulator monitoring the incident
The Alberta Energy Regulator said Sunday it had not received any reports of incidents involving energy infrastructure.
Multiple oil and gas producers operate on CFB Wainwright property.
The regulator posted on its website that it is communicating with operators in the area. Under law, energy companies must notify the AER immediately if an incident affects their assets or facilities.
Several natural gas wells are active on the grounds of the base, according to Alberta Geological Survey maps.
It’s also home to various natural gas pipelines, including a network owned by Sumerian Oil & Gas Inc., formerly Cleo Energy Corp., that runs through the grounds, along its northern and southern edge and southwest onto non-CFB land.
Sumerian issued a statement Sunday saying that all of its wells, pipelines and facilities – including roughly 300 well licences on the Wainwright training area – were placed under the care of the AER and Orphan Well Association on Oct. 5.
Medical response
Acute Care Alberta, the agency that co-ordinates medical services at acute health centres in the province, said Sunday afternoon that all Code Orange activations have been ended.
The emergency alert is issued when an incident causes more casualties than emergency departments or urgent care resources can manage using routine procedures. It was activated Saturday to co-ordinate a response across health care teams and emergency services.
Mr. Carney noted air ambulance crews flew in from Edmonton and from Saskatoon and said paramedics, nurses, and doctors in Wainwright, Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary are caring for the victims.
As of Sunday, patients had been transferred from Wainwright Health Centre to four facilities: the University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Condolences pour in from across the country
June Winger, president of the Union of National Defence Employees, which represents more than 20,000 civilian military members, said her organization will continue to update and support its members.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating fire at CFB Wainwright, especially the families, military personnel, civilian workers and community members impacted by this tragic incident,” she said. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the firefighters, first responders and emergency personnel working tirelessly to protect lives and keep people safe.”
In a social media post, Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta is mourning alongside Canadian Armed Forces members and their loved ones.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the province deployed resources to help Alberta first responders manage the incident.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford encouraged all Canadians to come together and support those impacted by the incident at CFB Wainwright.
With reports from Mercedes Stephenson, Steven Chase, Andrea Woo, Jeffrey Jones, Emma Graney, Jana G. Pruden, Matthew Scace, Jesse Winter, and Temur Durrani