'Serious incident' at NATO military base leads to victim n

People were killed and injured in an incident at one of Canada's most prominent military training bases in Alberta that caused a major fire, Canada's defense minister said on Saturday.

“I am saddened to report that there were both deaths and injuries at the base as a result of the incident,” Defense Secretary David McGinty told a news conference on Saturday night.

McGinty described the situation at Wainwright Base as "active and sensitive" as the fire was being closely monitored. “I cannot recall an incident like this recently,” he told a news conference, adding that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation.

McGinty did not provide details of the victims or details of what caused the incident. He said the Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities coordinated the emergency response.

A doctor at a hospital in Edmonton, 180km northwest of Wainwright, told Canada's national broadcaster that patients were being taken to hospitals across the city as Wainwright's health facilities were "completely overwhelmed" by the number of people in need of medical care.

“That number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,” Dr. Warren Tirsk, an emergency room doctor at Royal Alexandra Hospital, told CBC news. “That’s more patients than any of us would like to count right now.” This is a disaster. This happens every 15-25 years”.

Wainwright Municipal County said the fire crossed the base's fence earlier on Saturday and spread quickly due to strong winds.

During the day, large areas of the province were hit by a hurricane wind with gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour. The wind knocked down several trees, tore down signs and rolled garbage cans through the streets.

Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Smith called the fire "significant and tragic" and said it affected many service members.

The Canadian Armed Forces Base Wainwright is one of Canada's busiest military bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It is home to the Canadian Maneuver Preparation Center, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Center, which provides military training.

Neither Carney nor Smith gave details about what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured.

The Canadian Armed Forces, the federal government, provincial and local authorities are working together to mobilize all the necessary support and work out the details of what really happened, said Secretary of Defense McGinty.