Fire at Canada's Wainwright military base: people dead, hospitals overflowing, and nobody will give a number

At the Canadian military base of Wainwright, in the province of Alberta, several people were killed and injured on Saturday in a serious incident followed by a large fire. The blaze spread beyond the base perimeter, and hospitals in Edmonton, some 200 kilometres away, are taking in a large number of injured. How many people died and what caused it - officially, still unknown.

Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed on Saturday evening that there are dead and injured. "I regret to confirm that the incident at the base has resulted in fatalities and injuries," he told a press conference. He described the situation as very serious and sensitive and added that he could not recall a similar event in recent history. He gave no numbers.

It's the doctors who are breaking the silence. Emergency physician Warren Thirsk of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton said this is the kind of emergency the health system goes through once every 15 to 25 years. "These are more patients than any of us want to count right now. This is a disaster," he said. The injured are being transferred to Edmonton after capacity in Wainwright itself was overwhelmed.

Some Canadian media reported an explosion before the fire, but the authorities have not officially confirmed it. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was called on Saturday shortly after 4 p.m. local time over a reported fire in the part of the base used for military training. The investigation is being run by the army and the police, and for now it isn't even known whether the dead and injured are all military personnel.

Firefighting was hampered by strong wind, with gusts in parts of Alberta reaching 100 kilometres per hour. Firefighters from several surrounding areas joined in, and neighbouring Saskatchewan offered help. The town of Wainwright, with around 6,600 residents, lies right next to the base. No evacuation has been ordered, and residents have been asked to stay away from the area and keep the roads clear for emergency services.

Wainwright is one of the busiest bases of the Canadian Army: soldiers are trained here, combat operations are prepared and large military exercises are held. According to the 2021 census, 1,310 military and civilian staff were stationed there. Prime Minister Mark Carney offered condolences to the families of the victims, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the event a great tragedy.

Every hour without an official figure leaves room for rumours - claims of dozens dead and hundreds injured are already circulating on social media, none of them confirmed by anyone in charge. The authorities promise new information once the circumstances are established. The question is who will reach the families first - the ministry, or the rumours?