Four soldiers killed after a major fire at a Canadian military base have been named, as officials say another 39 people were taken to hospital
At least 19 of those in hospital are in a critical condition after a grass fire spread on Saturday, officials say
Carney says the "violent, fast-moving" fire led to "one of the worst tragedies" for the military in peacetime
"It was like a scene out of a war movie," says a hospital resident who witnessed a military vehicle and ambulances bringing injured people in
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, where the fire broke out about 16:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Saturday, is one of the country's busiest military training bases
Defence Minister David McGuinty says he is travelling to Edmonton, Alberta, following the fire at CFB Wainwright on Saturday.
"I will be briefed on the latest developments regarding the terrible incident that occurred at CFB Wainwright," he writes on social media.
McGuinty adds this message to the victims’ families and the Wainwright community: "Canada stands with you".
During his address, Prime Minister Mark Carney said those affected by the fire at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright included reservists and soldiers from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
Carney described the infantry as a force that has "fought for freedom, democracy, human dignity", noting it served in the first and second world wars, Korea and Afghanistan.
The PPCLI is one of several front-line infantry regiments in Canada’s armed forces. It has about 2,000 soldiers, divided into three battalions, two of which are based at CFB Edmonton, in Alberta, while the other is based at CFB Shilo, in Manitoba.
The regiment was founded in Ottawa in 1914 for service in the First World War, joining Allied forces in France and Belgium. Several PPCLI companies and platoons also served in Afghanistan from 2002, following the 9/11 terror attacks, until 2014.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesA soldier from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry pictured during an operation in Afghanistan in 2006
After Mark Carney’s earlier statement, we now know a bit more about the incident at Wainwright military base.
Here’s where things stand:
What we know
What we don’t know
You can read more about what we know so far about the incident here.
Jessica Murphy
Canada digital editor
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesThis would be a challenging moment for any prime minister. For Mark Carney, this comes at an especially delicate time politically in Alberta.
On Monday, Albertans will vote in a referendum on whether to pursue independence - on of the most significant challenges to Canadian unity in decades.
Carney just now made no mention of that vote - it would not have been the place.
But he made clear that Canada as a whole would be there for the wounded and the families of all the victims, many of whom will hail from that western province, just like Carney.
"In Canada, we take care of each other," he said in his brief remarks.
He also highlighted the close collaboration between the federal government and the provincial government in the immediate response to the crisis.
It is also a significant blow to a military that is only now beginning to receive significant government support after decades of underfunding.
Ottawa is funneling in billions to shore up old equipment, boost pay and get the armed forces up to Nato spending compliance.
It will now face scrutiny over how it handled this tragedy - one Carney called "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime".
Image source, Getty ImagesCanadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright, where the incident took place on Saturday, is one of the country's busiest military training bases.
Established in 1939, it is 210km (130 miles) east of Edmonton, Alberta's capital.
It is one of the main bases used by the Canadian military for live-fire training exercises. About 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers are on site on a typical day.
The chairperson of Nato’s Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, said the base houses troops from Canada and other allied countries.
Nadine Yousif
Reporting from Alberta, Canada
After Mark Carney's speech, one thing that we still don't know and are hoping to get clarity on in the coming hours is exactly what caused this fire.
The military base is known to conduct live-fire drills and do so safely. So there are a lot of questions about what happened here and how a fire of this magnitude spread so quickly.
So far, there hasn't been any indication that something nefarious has taken place.
There are indications that it might have been part of an exercise happening at the military base, but we again still don't know for sure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a statement in Canada about last night’s incident at the Wainwright military base in Alberta.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesThe prime minister then repeats his speech in French.
He once again thanks all those joining up to serve for the work they do "to defend Canada, to serve the country".
Carney says those who lost someone won’t have to carry the burden alone "because in Canada, we take care of each other".
The prime minister’s statement has now concluded.
"Canadians come together in crisis," Carney says, before thanking the Albertans and Canadians who are giving blood to help the victims.
He adds that those training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright came from bases across the country.
"Those we lost were training to serve Canada and now Canada serves them," Carney says.
He adds that Canada will support the injured through every step of their recovery.
Carney says the situation is "evolving rapidly".
A formal briefing with senior officials will go ahead this afternoon, he says.
He says the minister of national defence and the major-general of the Canadian army will be joined by local officials for the update.
"The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces who we have lost," he says, repeating that flags will be flown at half-mast.
He expresses his support for everyone injured and their families.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesCarney begins by saying that four service members have lost their lives and dozens more are seriously injured.
Mark Carney is now making a statement in Ottawa about the incident at CFB Wainwright.
Watch live above.
As we wait for Mark Carney to deliver his statement, here are some pictures from the scene on Saturday.
They show victims of the incident at the military base being treated by emergency services.
Image source, Canadian Press/AP
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Canadian Press/AP
Image source, Canadian Press/AP
Image source, ReutersAhead of his statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that the Canadian flag will fly at half-mast on federal buildings across the country.
"All Canadians stand with the service members at CFB Wainwright, their families, and their community," he writes on social media.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will make a statement soon about last night's incident at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright.
We'll bring you the key points here shortly. You can also watch live at the top of this page.
The non-profit Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (Stars) tells the BBC it deployed aircraft and crews from three of its bases to support the response at CFB Wainwright on Saturday.
Teams from Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary responded at the scene, it says.
Image source, ReutersCanadian TV network Global News reported earlier that at least seven people were killed in the incident at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright on Saturday.
Now, public broadcaster CBC is also reporting the same casualty figure, citing multiple sources.
The Department of National Defence has yet to confirm the official number of fatalities. The Canadian Armed Forces said earlier that no details would be shared until the process of notifying next of kin is complete.
Nadine Yousif
Reporting from Edmonton, Alberta
We're at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton - one of the two major hospitals in the city.
After yesterday's deadly incident, the hospital declared a code orange - a disaster response protocol for events with a high number of casualties.
It's pretty quiet outside now, with just a few ambulances by the emergency room front doors.
It's still early in the morning here - it's just gone 09:00.
It's a cold morning, with a little wind - but not as strong as the wind we felt yesterday.
Driving around rural Alberta, we felt gusts of 100km/h (62mph) that could knock you off your feet.
Officials said the fire that erupted at the base on Saturday spread rapidly due to those high winds.
Mayor Pugh says it’s not uncommon to hear cannons being fired from the base.
He says cannon fire was heard again yesterday before it suddenly stopped.
News then came through that local first responders had been deployed to an "all hands on deck" situation.
He confirms the fire at the base has been contained, but fire and rescue teams remain at the scene to contain any potential flare-up.
The mayor’s interview with the BBC has now finished. Stay with us as we continue to follow the incident.
Bruce Pugh tells BBC News channel that the Wainwright military base is a primary training base for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), which has been conducting live-fire exercises over the past week.
He says an incident like this has not happened before and "this kind of tragedy is unheard of", adding that CAF personnel are exceptionally professional and well trained.
Incident at Canadian military base 'unheard of', says local mayor