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.

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.

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.”

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.”

He said authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to provide further information.

CFB Wainwright is one of Canada’s busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations.

It is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training.

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.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said officers were called shortly after 4pm (10pm GMT) Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base.

Firefighters faced a volatile situation with large areas of the province hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kilometres an hour.

The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.

By 11 pm (5am GMT), the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected.

There was no evacuation order for residents.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta but did not specify what resources were being deployed.

Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney has said a “serious incident” has occurred at the Wainwright military base, and that he is working closely with the government of Alberta.

In a post on social media, he 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.

“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.”

The Canadian Armed Forces have confirmed that the incident has resulted in “fatalities and injuries” but said there would be no further information until they had informed the next of kin of the deceased.

“Our immediate priority is supporting those affected and notifying next of kin. We will not confirm casualty or injury details until that process is complete,” the CAF said in its statement.

General Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said: “This is a profoundly difficult moment for the entire Canadian Armed Forces.

“Our immediate focus remains on supporting those affected, assisting emergency response efforts, and ensuring the well-being of our members, their families, and the surrounding community,” said Carignan.

“While casualty identification and notification processes are ongoing, I extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives. Our thoughts are also with all those impacted by this tragic incident.”