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Alberta military base fire kills four, 19 critical
DW.com • • general
Key Points:
- A fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta killed four military personnel and hospitalized 39 others, with at least 19 in critical condition, according to Premier Danielle Smith.
- The blaze, which began during a training exercise by the Third Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was fueled by strong winds that caused it to spread rapidly towards the range administrative area.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the army, pledging support for the injured and the armed forces community.
- Medical facilities near the base, including hospitals in Edmonton, were overwhelmed by the number of casualties, with emergency doctors calling the situation a major disaster.
- The fire also spread beyond the base, prompting emergency crews to focus on protecting lives and property, occurring just days before Alberta's referendum on potential separation from Canada.
