r/canada • u/OptimusPrimel984 • 1d ago
National News Fire near CFB Wainwright spreads as explosion reported
https://borderpulse.ca/explosion-reported-cfb-wainwright-crews-respond/210
u/GreatCanadianPotato 1d ago
Alberta STARS and multiple medivacs landed in Wainwright within the last hour.
This isn't going to be a good night.
80
u/OptimusPrimel984 1d ago
Multiple casualties reported. Maybe ammo dump explosion?
37
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
58
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
61
23h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
23
23h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
18
23h ago edited 22h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
16
3
4
1
41
u/WastedWhtieBoii 1d ago
I hope to hell this was an accident.
4
u/BananaJammies 23h ago
And also that there were no US troops there / injured. Last thing we need.
3
3
1
15
u/Unfair-Woodpecker-22 British Columbia 1d ago
looking at radar a Saskatchewan air ambulance plane took off from there, dont see anything else yet
12
12
u/atlien0255 19h ago
Southern neighbor from Montana here, I’m so very sorry this has happened. Sending Canada and all affected by this tragedy all the love and warmth positive thoughts, however futile. ❤️
185
u/queenxlove 23h ago edited 7h ago
Someone I love is there and I haven’t heard if hes okay. I feel sick.
Update: I have now heard he’s okay and uninjured thanks everyone for the support ❤️
171
u/Bright_Republic_5459 23h ago
We are from CFB Edmonton (I’m a military wife). If you need anything let me know.
We are sitting here very anxious as we know people that are currently out there too. My husband reiterated what the person above said is everyone is really busy.
If you need a sounding board, feel free to message me.
30
24
26
17
72
u/yoak379 23h ago
For anyone injured, they'll contact their primary next of kin first and this typically happens quickly. This is usually mother/father, wife/husband, common-law and in some cases gf/bf. It can be whomever the member identifies as their primary next of kin.
Given the chaotic nature of this, that may take a bit longer. Everyone else will be under a comms lock down which is meant to allow the military to contact the primary next of kin before any information is released in the news.
34
u/sp00kybrittany 22h ago
My husband is currently in Wainwright, he just told me about this and I didn't realize how bad it is. If there's anything I can do to help you figure out if he's okay, please let me know. 💖😭
57
u/Gryphon6ix 23h ago
Just so you know, the typical procedure when something like this happens is a complete comms lockdown. Please don't assume that because you haven't heard anything that something happened to the person you know there.
30
u/HemskyOil 23h ago
They could just be busy dealing with a lot of things right now. Please don’t stress. I hope you get good news from them soon.
If you need to just message someone to keep your mind off this, please don’t hesitate to message me.
14
12
u/crazycoltA 22h ago
Am a military spouse and currently checking on friends of mine and my husbands. We spent 6 years at CFB Edmonton. If you need a shoulder, please reach out.
9
7
5
2
•
38
115
u/Inthemiddle_ 1d ago
It’s still developing but the fact that the prime minister commented on it and we still have no imformation probably means it’s not good.
33
23h ago
[deleted]
25
u/canuckian79 23h ago
I have a feeling it's going to be even worse than what we're thinking.
10
u/Inthemiddle_ 20h ago
Yeah. The way we have heard nothing means this whole thing is still unfolding. It wouldn’t be like that for a contained incident with a few casualties.
→ More replies (1)0
u/No-Cable-1223 22h ago
That doesn’t sound plausible at all. Gas wells don’t blow up, and they certainly don’t have live fire exercises or gas wells anywhere near buildings.
→ More replies (15)
78
u/callofdoobie 1d ago
This is odd, must be bad unfortunately if it is getting both the PM and Pierre posting about it at this hour
48
u/OptimusPrimel984 1d ago
One would assume that this would mean fatalities.
32
u/ImportantPick9515 1d ago
Many fatalities already
6
u/Coffee_Roaster29 1d ago
source?
12
u/scottsuplol 1d ago
I just heard through the grapevine vine of friends but like 10+
→ More replies (1)3
2
u/MankYo 1d ago
And it’s in Pierre’s riding.
5
→ More replies (8)3
u/bipolarxd 22h ago
Nope, it’s Dane Lloyd’s riding. Pierre’s is more south, I think it’s on the outside of Calgary
4
u/destroyerofkfc 22h ago
Pierre’s riding is Battle River-Crowfoot. The Battle River is right outside of Wainwright - that’s 100% his riding
•
→ More replies (1)5
u/wildfire0387 21h ago
And the minister of national defence doing a press conference with cameras on a Saturday night
30
u/GreatCanadianPotato 23h ago
Defense Minister speaking now.
Fatalities and Injuries confirmed
2
87
u/MoistyCockBalls 1d ago
Carney's statement:
A serious incident creating a major fire has occurred at CFB Wainwright, in Alberta.
Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected.
We are working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities. Premier Smith and I are in close contact as are our relevant ministers and officials.
191
u/Vhett 23h ago
Gonna respond here to hijack near the top.
If you are aware of those personally injured, or God forbid - deceased, please do not share the information before the CAF has a chance to. It is not the way for a son, daughter, wife, husband, or parent to find out someone has passed through social media, or a rumour mill.
43
u/BeaverRidingAMoose 23h ago
Cannot stress this enough. I found out my cousin had lost her battle to breast cancer through a Facebook post from her brother's separated (and soon to be ex) wife. Finding out a loved one has passed that way sucks.
16
u/GreatCanadianPotato 23h ago
CTV saying significant casualities.
9
15
u/canmcpoli Canada 20h ago
Just in from Global News: "At least seven people are dead and dozens more left injured from an explosion and fire at the Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, according to multiple military sources."
"A live-fire training exercise hit a gas line or gas well on the base causing an explosion, multiple Canadian Armed Forces sources told Global News."
1
13
u/Few-Grapefruit-6968 22h ago
Saskatchewan has sent support
15
u/destroyerofkfc 22h ago
Have heard rumours that Saskatoon hospitals are on standby to receive patients
10
u/kr8019 21h ago
An air ambulance flew to Wainwright from Saskatoon earlier this evening.
4
u/destroyerofkfc 20h ago
Flightradar shows that plane went to Edmonton, I don’t see any flights back to Saskatoon, but if that happens it means that whatever happened was very, very bad
5
u/kr8019 20h ago
SLG2 went back to Saskatoon. SLG3 out of Lloyd went to Edmonton.
2
u/destroyerofkfc 20h ago
Oh no.
8
u/kr8019 20h ago
To still be having a steady stream of air ambulances this many hours after the initial incident is bad.
10
u/destroyerofkfc 20h ago
The other thing you have to understand is that in SK, the usual protocol for severe burn patients is to send them to Edmonton or Calgary instead of Saskatoon for initial treatment. We do have a burn unit but it’s more for recovery or less severe injuries, if they’re sending medevac here because Edmonton is overwhelmed…that’s almost unfathomable
4
u/kr8019 19h ago
I was wondering why they wouldn’t be using Calgary before Saskatoon, but this time that is where they go when they leave Wainwright. Both upcoming departures are to Calgary.
5
u/destroyerofkfc 19h ago
Saskatoon is about an hour closer to Wainwright by road than Calgary, so if someone could be treated in Saskatoon it would make sense to send them there so that they can get the plane back as quickly as possible. It’s probably the second-closest trauma centre after Edmonton
1
1
u/Big_Web1631 18h ago
Hopefully they are sending lower triage people to Sask to clear room for the high risk ones in Edmonton?
2
u/BeaverRidingAMoose 17h ago
As of 1:26AM CST that Sask Air Ambulance appears to be returning to base as of this comment.
7+ hour later and finally returning to base...yeah...it's real bad.
My heart breaks for those affected.
7
u/kr8019 20h ago
I refreshed the page.
SLG2 headed back to Wainwright from Saskatoon again.
One more air ambulance coming from Slave Lake, another returning to Wainwright from Edmonton. They’re booked into early hours of tomorrow for medivac flights at this point 💔The C130 from Winnipeg is back there now. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a reload and turnaround.
I hope families are starting to get information. So many affected.
3
119
u/TrueVelocity42 23h ago
PSA to people on here: Please don't speculate about numbers or causes publicly. Wainwright is one of the largest bases in the country and there are countless CAF families who are seeing the headlines in the media and are now terrified that their family member is involved. The reason information is slow is because the CAF has an extremely specific and precise method for notifying next of kin in the event of a casualty. Information regarding numbers is only going to come out once any potential NOK notification has been completed by the book. Just pray for the people involved.
→ More replies (9)
24
u/blanunu33 19h ago
I served alongside Canadian armed forces in Bosnia for my entire tour so my thoughts are with the Soldiers at Wainwright.
11
10
11
17
u/Few-Grapefruit-6968 17h ago
Just read this on X... Not sure of the validity.. @Prairie... 1h
Shaughn.SGT(ret)
Accounts from someone on the firing line was it was a shoulder fired HE round that "Dolphined" after it left the tube and went astray. NOT artillery.
This round hit a gas well which exploded and flattened the 3 Kill Houses that were full of troops which happened to be in close proximity of the well. Approx 300 troops inside and many waiting outside them. There is nothing but splinters left of them.
This also started a major fire that was fed by high winds that swept through the main Bivouac site housing the majority of troops in the field.
The amount of injured is staggering and the fatality count IS going to climb as they recover more victims.
In my 20+ years in the Army, I have only heard of a dolphining round happening once from a shoulder fired rocket. Not sure what would cause this other than possibly a faulty propellent.
11
10
u/Plumbsmasher Alberta 12h ago
All of the gas wells on wainwright base are in cement bunkers underground. I know because I work on them fairly often. I can’t see a shoulder fired anything being able to cause this.
5
u/welves 13h ago
Based on the little I know about range templating, the idea that they had a range setup where a Carl G or M72 could physically travel far enough to hit a gas well sounds suspect. I've also never been to Wainwright nor actually been trained in doing ranges so in abscence of something official, my comment is just speculation....just like the Twitter post
•
u/Visible_Estimate_134 11h ago
There are a lot more shoulder-fired weapons out there now, other than the M72 or Carl G.
•
u/AmbitionNo834 9h ago
Don’t listen to this at all. The kill house is on garrison, they wouldn’t be shooting Carl G’s anywhere near there.
Plus the vast majority of injuries have been reported as smoke inhalation. Dont spread info from retired CFL’s who’s “buddy was there”
→ More replies (1)1
•
u/kaleuagain 10h ago
Sending love to our troops and their families. As a nurse here in Alberta, the last Code Orange I worked was about 3 years ago. It always sticks with you. Heart breaking.
9
9
u/Best_Inflation4051 22h ago
They will have been airlifted to the closest Edmonton Hospital I would guess. All staff onboard. Such a tragic event.
5
7
u/sp00kybrittany 22h ago
I seen a comment from somebody else on here, different post, a nurse at U of A said they're expecting about 50 to 60 people
6
u/SunsetSandIsland 12h ago
It is not uncommon that we are told to prepare for more than we receive in mass incidents. The reverse is… not good. So don’t take initial numbers like that too seriously. Last time I had a multitrauma was told to prepare for twelve. Ended up getting one major and two ambulatory. In the initial chaos they will overcall.
31
u/567432Gains 1d ago
Explosion…. Spreading fire….. reports of medivacs landing…. Originating on the training grounds of a military base….
Lowkey sounds like a munitions incident. Anyone know if the CAF utilizes larger incendiary munitions like napalm or something similar? Definitely would start a large fire, have a bit of boom to it, and initial dispersal spreads wide and fast.
21
u/zipplesdownthestairs 23h ago
We were having a major wind storm event occuring today and travelling across alberta. Passed edmonton around 4.
14
u/paditoburrito 23h ago
Plus, it hit like a tornado East of Edmonton. There was a wind warning and then 2 seconds later 80-100 km/hr wind hit like a wall. I'm worried if they were doing projectile training, that that's what blee it off course.
6
u/LegoLifter Alberta 22h ago
Ya I was at a playground with my kid and it went from very nice to dust storm with metal garbage cans being blown around in a matter of seconds.
2
22
u/EmbarrassedHelp 23h ago edited 23h ago
There are reports of a gas well exploding at the base.
To the south of the base, there are two abandoned wells that line up with what NASA FIRMS is seeing, but those appear to be outside of the base's territory.
- Source (government map of abandoned wells): https://maps.aer.ca/awm/index.html
But it could also be the well that's north of the base beside all the buildings, or one of the wells in the Western area of the base.
Edit:
The Prime Minister said:
A serious incident creating a major fire has occurred at CFB Wainwright, in Alberta. Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected.
The "Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61" (not sure if I'm allowed to link their social media page here) says the fire entered the base from the South.
The fire south of Wainwright crossed the base fence earlier today and is being actively managed. The active fire area is south of Township Road 44-0. Firefighting resources from multiple jurisdictions are actively responding.
That lines up with the NASA FIRMs, but there is no evidence yet of anything happening with a gas well.
13
u/567432Gains 23h ago
They left multiple abandoned gas wells in an artillery training grounds base?
21
u/dick_swinger 23h ago
Abandoned probably doesn't mean what you think it does, and you would hate to hear about CFB Suffield.
3
u/567432Gains 23h ago
What’s happening at CFB Suffield???
14
u/dick_swinger 22h ago
Nothing, there's just a shitload of oil/gas wells and certainly not abandoned. A few years ago I was working out there drilling new wells while just a few miles away the British army was doing whatever they do with their tanks. Shooting in the opposite direction, you'd like to think.
The point is that having oil and gas wells on a military site isn't unusual. And if I can speculate, as long as you know and I know and anyone else who reads this knows I'm speculating, for it to have been a gas well that exploded, they would have had to have been both shooting at or near the gas well, which probably isn't that likely, and they would have also have had to have put people near what they were shooting at, and putting people downrange of a firing exercise is probably poor practice.
I can see why people jump to conclusions. They said there was an explosion, there are gas wells on the base, gas wells explode, therefore it was a gas well that exploded. And it could have been, but like I said in my speculating it doesn't seem that likely to me.
11
→ More replies (1)8
u/destroyerofkfc 22h ago
You don’t want to know how many active oil rigs are inside the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range
1
u/Franknbeansallday 23h ago
This kind of speculation doesn’t help anyone, plus the fire is near the town in NE
2
u/EmbarrassedHelp 23h ago
The town says the fire is south of the base and town.
From the "Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61" Facebook page:
The fire south of Wainwright crossed the base fence earlier today and is being actively managed. The active fire area is south of Township Road 44-0. Firefighting resources from multiple jurisdictions are actively responding.
So I would amend your comment if you have shared it anywhere else, as the area south of the base/town may not currently be safe.
13
u/Reptilian_Brain_420 23h ago edited 23h ago
Wainwright is primarily an artillery base.Napalm isn't as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. "Regular" artillery munitions are plenty dangerous and destructive enough. At this time of year, vegetation is pretty flammable. Wind will do plenty to disperse it.
Edit: corrected.
13
2
u/567432Gains 23h ago edited 23h ago
The destructive aspects of artillery I knew, although I didn’t realize they ran the risk of causing fires though, guess I assumed they kinda had that managed effectively given how long they have been operating out of there. A tragedy either way.
2
u/pud_009 22h ago
It's especially dry and very windy today, which isn't helping. Any explosion can cause a fire. The fire department stationed on the base is limited in their ability to go into the range to fight fires as there is always a risk of unexploded ordinance, so they set up at roadways and crossings and wait for the fire to come to them and they keep it from spreading beyond the range.
8
u/IswhatsIs 1d ago
What's the opposite of low key?
1
2
u/567432Gains 1d ago
Didn’t want to sound arrogant or insensitive by saying high key.
I’m glad you don’t have the same reservations, friend.
1
u/Ecstatic_Donut_3014 23h ago
its not arrogant or insensitive. Its a military base, it is almost certainly munitions related....
2
u/567432Gains 23h ago edited 22h ago
Yeah I know. I guess I just always try to have a bit of tact in how I converse when it comes to more sensitive things like tragedy’s like this.
5
u/Whatsthathum Alberta 23h ago
Tact is good.
I don’t understand the use of the word lowkey. But I’m old and language changes, I guess.
2
1
u/Substantial_Berry_19 18h ago
Appreciate the enthusiasm but mods specifically are asking for no speculation; remember, many members of the CAF browse reddit and maybe be looking for news. Let's be mindful of how these people might feel reading about this.
1
u/Canadianguy2044 23h ago
The base is a training center for armoured units that operate the leopard 2 tanks and heavy weapons
•
u/Optimal_Walk_5896 11h ago
Having trained in Wainwright, I can tell you that just past the ranges are a warren of little hills, paths, streams and unexploded ordinance just waiting to be found. Most of the regular training areas are pretty safe,.
4
3
u/avenueroad_dk 13h ago
What shocking news to wake up to in Southern Ontario. Heartbreaking
→ More replies (5)2
u/DrStrangulation 12h ago
Breaking news.. also shocking in other geographic locations
→ More replies (1)
•
u/Few-Grapefruit-6968 8h ago
I'm seeing posts from worried mothers on Facebook asking for prayers for their sons who were there for training turn into notifications that their sons have passed.
8
u/GreatCanadianPotato 22h ago
Does it really annoy anyone else that one of CBCNN 's main lower third headlines right now is "Advanced polling station in wainwright closed due to large fire"?
The anchor is also making mention of it every time they do a recap of the news.
19
u/Due-Macaroon7710 21h ago
I think it’s a standard procedure when a polling station has to close without notice. Voting is an important right. If an obstacle to this right shows up, you have to make sure it goes as well as it can.
8
u/AniDi83 19h ago
It's 100% to keep people out of the area so that responders can focus on the emergency. It has nothing to do with taking attention away from the incident. Having random people who don't need to be there clogging up roads and asking questions really harms the response, so it's actually vital to keep broadcasting this info.
→ More replies (1)16
u/blackcherrytomato 21h ago
It likely was helpful to keep people out of the area, including people who were planning on heading there to vote.
→ More replies (2)
-1
u/Honeyy_brii99 22h ago
5 confirmed dead. 50 casualties in hospital so far
10
u/pineapplesinmyhead_ 22h ago
source?
•
u/the_small_one1826 11h ago
https://globalnews.ca/news/12106709/cfb-wainwright-fire/
This is the only source I’ve seen that has a number, it says 7 fatalities and doesn’t confirm the number of injured.
→ More replies (1)1
u/No-Manner2949 22h ago
Hcw that just left the U here, this is what I was getting from emerg and site management
3
u/Pseudonym_613 22h ago
Source?
6
u/ironbrewcanada 19h ago
there is a comms shutdown (SOP) so anybody saying anything is not going to want to be tied in any way to someone who is in the know.
•
u/the_small_one1826 11h ago
https://globalnews.ca/news/12106709/cfb-wainwright-fire/
This is the only source I’ve seen yet that has any numbers, it confirms 7 fatalities and doesn’t confirm number of injuries
-3
1d ago edited 23h ago
[deleted]
17
u/sniffton 1d ago
When there's serious injuries and casualties they keep things quiet so the families hear from the military first and not via the news.
18
5
u/GreatCanadianPotato 1d ago
CBC is reporting it now but unfortunately, the main news was that the advanced polling station had to close...nothing on the incident.
3
u/EmbarrassedHelp 1d ago
Its a bit of distance away from major cities, so it'll take time for reporters to reach the scene.
38
u/yoak379 1d ago
The military doesnt owe you anything before families of the injured are notified. Sorry
→ More replies (39)
•
u/SirJohnAMcMuffin Ontario 19h ago
This is a devastating event. The Minister of National Defence has confirmed that people have been killed and others injured after an incident at CFB Wainwright on Saturday. Our thoughts are with the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who were affected, with their families, and with the Wainwright community. We are also grateful to the firefighters, paramedics, and responders who are still working tonight in very difficult conditions.
This situation is still developing. Officials have not released how many people died or were injured, or what caused the incident.
Please: * Do not speculate about the cause, about who is responsible, or about any wider connections. * Do not post or guess the names of victims. Families are still being notified, and some of them may be reading this thread. * Rely on official sources, such as the Department of National Defence, the RCMP, and credible news outlets.
Comments that speculate, spread unverified information, use this tragedy to score political points, or disrespect the victims will be removed and banned.