Manitoba premier offers condolences after CFB Wainwright tragedy

Premier Wab Kinew said Manitoba “stands ready to help in any way we can” and will lower its flags to half-mast after a large fire tore through a Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta. Saturday, resulting in four confirmed deaths and dozens of serious injuries.

“This is a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones, those who were injured and everyone affected,” Kinew said in a statement Sunday.

“We know there are families waiting for news about their loved ones, and our thoughts are with them, too.”

Kinew said he was in touch with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Defence Minister David McGuinty to offer Manitoba’s assistance and share condolences.

“I also want to thank the first responders and everyone who stepped up to help during such a difficult time,” he said.

Alberta police say the fire broke out Saturday afternoon in a training area at the base, which is about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

The cause of the blaze has not been confirmed, but the Armed Forces have said there is no indication of terrorist activity.

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the casualities in a short news conference Sunday and said next of kin had been notified for the four deceased.

He said soldiers training at the base are from the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, which includes approximately 2,000 soldiers from Edmonton and CFB Shilo east of Brandon.

“Throughout Canada’s history, the Princess Pats have fought for freedom, democracy, human dignity — in the First World War, in the second, in Korea, in Afghanistan, and during numerous peace-keeping missions over the decades,” Carney said.

“That is the record, that is the standard, those are the values of the women and men who were training yesterday on the Alberta prairie when disaster struck. And that commitment, that service, those ideals, are the debts that we as Canadians owe to them.”

A spokesperson for CFB Shilo said they were unable to comment at this time and deferred to the department of National Defence.

Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville expressed condolences to those affected in a statement published to social media Sunday.

“Our thoughts are with the CAF members, their loved ones, and all the first responders in the difficult days ahead,” she said.

— With files from the Canadian Press

malak.abas@winnipegfreepress.com