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Alberta premier says 39 injured in military base fire, including 19 critical

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • October 18, 2026

Paramedics load an injured person into an ambulance at the Wainwright Health Centre as injured military members are treated after a fire at CFB Wainwright, outside of Wainwright, Alta., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan

EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says, along with four deaths in the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, there are 39 more injured in hospital.

Smith says 19 of them are in critical condition.

She says some are dealing with severe burn injuries.

Smith made the comments at a news conference in Edmonton with officials, including Defence Minister David McGuinty.

Officials say the tragedy began with a fire that was whipped up by high winds.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

This report by was first published Oct. 18, 2026.