Deadly fire breaks out after ‘serious incident’ at Canada military base

A deadly fire broke out at a military base in Canada on Saturday after a “serious incident,” authorities said, with firefighters still working to prevent the blaze from crossing into residential areas.

“A large fire originating near the Canadian Forces Base has spread rapidly due to high winds and has crossed into the Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61,” said the municipal district of Wainwright, a town in eastern Alberta province, in a Facebook post Saturday evening.

In a later update, it said the fire had “crossed the base fence” and was being “actively managed,” with firefighters deployed from multiple jurisdictions.

It’s not clear what caused the fire or the extent of the damage. But Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it stemmed from “a serious incident,” adding that his administration was working closely with the provincial government and local authorities to respond.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the fire “significant and tragic,” saying it was “affecting many of our brave military personnel.”

No evacuation order has been issued yet. Authorities have asked residents to avoid the incident area, keep roads clear, and to avoid visiting the Wainwright Health Center except for critical medical needs.

David McGuinty, the minister of national defense, said he had been briefed by the Canadian Armed Forces on the “major incident.” Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also wrote in a post that he had spoken to McGuinty and Carney about the fire, thanked emergency responders, and added: “Pray for Wainwright, everyone.”

加拿大当局称，周六，加拿大一处军事基地发生“严重事故”，引发致命火灾，消防员仍在努力阻止火势蔓延至居民区。

“由于强风，加拿大军事基地附近的一场大火迅速蔓延，并已蔓延至阿尔伯塔省东部的温赖特镇第 61 号市政区，”温赖特镇市政区周六晚间在 Facebook 上发帖称。

在随后的更新中，该机构表示，火势已经“越过基地围栏”，目前正在“积极控制”，多个辖区的消防员已被部署到现场。

目前尚不清楚火灾原因和损失程度。但加拿大总理马克·卡尼表示，火灾源于“一起严重事件”，并补充说，他的政府正与省政府和地方当局密切合作，共同应对。

阿尔伯塔省省长丹妮尔·史密斯称这场火灾“意义重大且令人悲痛”，并表示“它影响了我们许多勇敢的军人”。

目前尚未发布疏散令。当局已要求居民避开事发区域，保持道路畅通，并避免前往温赖特健康中心，除非有紧急医疗需求。

国防部长戴维·麦金蒂表示，他已听取加拿大武装部队关于这起“重大事件”的简报。反对党领袖皮埃尔·波利耶夫也在社交媒体上发文称，他已就火灾事件与麦金蒂和卡尼进行了交谈，并感谢了应急人员，同时写道：“请大家为韦恩赖特祈祷。”