Several people have been killed or injured at a military base in Canada after a major fire broke out, the nation’s defence minister said.
Emergency services were called shortly after 4pm on Saturday after the blaze erupted at the Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, which is one of the country’s busiest training grounds.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident and described the situation as "very, very active and delicate."
Local media has reported seven deaths and dozens more injured. A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, 180 km (120 miles) northwest, told Canada's national broadcaster that patients were being brought to hospitals across the city as health-care facilities around the base became "completely overwhelmed" by the number of people needing care.
"It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It's a disaster. It's a one in every 15 to 25-year disaster,” Dr Warren Thirsk said.
Prime minister Mark Carney said that a "serious incident creating a major fire" had occurred, adding that his "thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected".
Everything we know as several killed or injured in major fire at Canadian military base
Several people have been killed and many others injured after a large blaze broke out at a Canadian military base.
Emergency services have worked into the night to contain the fire, which has seen hospitals in Edmonton “overwhelmed” and has been described as a “one in every 15 to 25-year disaster”.
Reports of a fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta began at 4pm (10pm GMT), with the Canadian Armed Forces confirming a number of fatalities and injuries, with further details to come after next of kin had been informed.
Here’s everything we know about the incident:
Unconfirmed reports say 'at least seven dead'
Canadian broadcaster Global News is reporting at least seven people are dead and many more have been left injured after the incident, citing “multiple military sources”.
The official death toll has not yet been released, and the Canadian Armed Forces has said they will not provide further details until next of kin have been informed.
Fire crossed military base perimeter due to high winds
The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire crossed the base’s fence earlier Saturday and was spreading rapidly due to high winds.
Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect.
Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kilometers an hour. The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.
Wainwright mayor says community is 'really worried' about those affected
The mayor Wainwright has said it is a heavy day for the twon and has said a number of residents are serving or former members of the armed forces.
Bruce Pugh told national broadcaster CBC: “So as far as the involvement of our town, our first responders, our fire department has been fighting the fire and our local hospital has been treating the patients as they've been brought into it, trying to do the best we absolutely can.
“We have neighbours who are either serving or former members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We're integrated, our kids playing the same hockey teams, attend the same schools,” he said.
“We share our lives. And so that part is very hard. Of course, we're also really worried about our community members and friends and neighbours who work in our Wainwright hospital.”
Fire disrupts Alberta independence vote
The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday's referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada.
Elections Alberta said two polling locations, in Lloydminster and Vermilion, closed early Saturday and the ballots were transported securely.
Watch: Smoke covers local area after major fire breaks out at Alberta military base
Top Nato admiral sends condolences to families of deceased
The chair of the Nato military committee has sent condolences to the families of those affected, and has said that they will honour their memory.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone wrote on social media: “On behalf of the NATO Military Committee, we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy at CFB Wainwright, and our wishes for a full recovery to all the injured.
“Wainwright is where Canadian soldiers, and so many Allies with them, train for the hardest tasks of our profession.
“Those who fell there served our common security, and the Military Committee will honour their memory.”
Conservative leader says 'Pray for Wainwright'
Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defence minister to offer support to those affected by the fire.
"Pray for Wainwright, everyone," Poilievre said in a social media post.
He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as "significant and tragic" and said it was affecting many military personnel.
Live training round hit gas line or gas well, reports say
The official cause of the explosion and fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta remains under active official investigation, though multiple news outlets citing Canadian Armed Forces sources reported that a live-fire training round struck a gas line or gas well on the base.
High wind gusts reaching up to 100 km/h fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread rapidly beyond the base's perimeter and into the adjacent Municipal District of Wainwright.
Code orange alert called in Edmonton hospitals
A code orange alert has been called in Edmonton hospitals — signaling an external disaster or mass casualty incident (MCI).
Dr. Warren Thirsk told national broadcaster CBC that the current situation affects most other emergency services too.
“I know that our EMS colleagues are activated. I know that our fire colleagues are activated. I would expect that our police services are activated and the RCMP,” Dr Thirsk said.
“So I would expect that everyone that would typically respond to any type of emergency is both aware of the disaster situation and mobilising extra teams to respond as quickly as possible.”
Dr Thirsk also says that the number of patients in the situation “quickly exceeded” the threshold for calling the code.
“This wasn’t a hard decision to call a disaster code.”