At least seven people have lost their lives due to a fire declared at the Wainwright military base, located in the western Canadian province of Alberta, according to military sources cited by various media in the country.
"There are seven deceased in the incident at the Wainwright Base. For the moment, nothing is known about the number of injured or their severity," reported the Canadian public broadcaster CBC, thus confirming previous information published by the Canadian media Global News.
The fire originated around 4:00 PM (local time), according to a statement released by the Canadian Army, and spread rapidly beyond the training area of the facilities. The Armed Forces have confirmed that the incident has left fatalities and injuries, although they have not yet provided specific figures.
"Our immediate priority is to provide support to those affected and notify their families. We will not confirm details about the casualties or the injured until that process is complete," the military institution stated in its note, collected by CBC, emphasizing that communication with relatives must be completed before disclosing more data.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast on federal buildings across the country. "All Canadians stand with the military of the Wainwright Base, their families, and their community," he emphasized.
Carney had previously highlighted that he is "working closely" with the government of Alberta, and particularly with its Premier, Danielle Smith, who has described the fire as "significant and tragic." Both have conveyed their support to the affected personnel.
The Minister of Defence of Canada, David McGuinty, has confirmed the existence of fatalities and injuries, without providing more data for now, and has indicated that the fire is "being monitored very closely," without clarifying whether it is completely under control, in statements collected by the public broadcaster CBC.
"The Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and partners from the federal government, including those from public safety, are working with the government of Alberta and municipal governments to mobilize all necessary support," McGuinty declared.
For its part, the municipal district of Wainwright has communicated that emergency services are "actively managing the situation" and are striving to "protect people, property, and critical infrastructure in the area."
Canadian authorities expect to provide more information in the coming hours about the definitive number of victims and those affected by the fire.
Fire under control and impact on the referendum
The fire is now under control, according to official sources from the municipal district of Wainwright to public television. However, despite this improvement, authorities have urged the population to stay away from the affected area to keep access routes clear and facilitate the work of emergency teams.
In an update issued shortly after 10:45 PM (local time), the municipal district itself specified that the fire surveillance team will remain deployed in the area throughout the night, with the aim of monitoring the terrain and acting if any changes occur that require new interventions.
The impact of the fire has also reached the early voting process of the Alberta referendum, where a polling station located in the Wainwright Communiplex recreation center has been closed after receiving notices about the rapid spread of the fire from the vicinity of the military base towards the municipal district.
The electoral agency Elections Alberta has attributed the advance of the flames, in part, to strong winds, which have increased the risk around the facilities. It has also assured that the ballots and electoral material from the center are being safely relocated.
The closure occurs on the last day of early voting in the province before the referendum on Alberta's membership in Canada, scheduled for this Monday, October 19. The emergency has forced the temporary suspension of electoral activity in Wainwright, while the involved services continue to focus on ensuring the safety of residents and managing the consequences of the fire.