Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inStuti MishraSunday 18 October 2026 09:06 BSTCanadian defence minister issues update on military base firePeople have been killed and injured following a major fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, Canadian defence minister David McGuinty confirmed.High winds of up to 100km/h caused the blaze to spread rapidly beyond the military base, leaving local health facilities in Wainwright overwhelmed.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which Mr McGuinty described as an unprecedented incident in recent memory.Casualties were transferred to hospitals across Edmonton, with an emergency doctor describing the situation as a disaster of a scale seen once every 15 to 25 years.The incident disrupted advance voting for a referendum on Alberta's potential independence from Canada, forcing two polling locations to close early.In fullMany deaths and injuries as ‘very active’ incident sparks fire at Canadian military baseMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in