17 Oct 2026: Major fire at CFB Wainwright

[SeaKingTacco]

I am not sure what the answer is. Beyond the NoK notification system, which is set up for single digit casualties at one time, the Assisting Officer requirements out of this one incident will eat all of 1 Brigade, if not also significantly impact the Army for months to come.

 

[McG]

For Mass Casualty Incident ( MCI ), do CAF paramedics use Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) , and the 5-level Prehospital Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) and Hospital Destination Coordinators?

Units are required to bring their own ambulances & medics for certain training. Beyond that, most bases & training areas depend on municipal ambulance.

 

[armyvern]

Edmonton and Calgary each have eight bed burn units. I would assume they can probably surge to a few more beds in an emergency, but I would also assume neither was vacant. I expect that ICU likely took some.

I saw a post on Twitter this morning where a mother identified her son at 1 Fd Amb as being one of the seriously injured.

Carney to speak any minute now.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/livestory/cfb-wainwright-fire-live-updates-9.7385537

Her son is a Medic IIRC.

 

[brihard]

CBC is now saying they confirm seven killed. That I think makes this the worst CAR loss since HMCS Kootenay, 1969.

EDIT: Contradicted by the PM’s presser. Hopefully the news has it wrong.

 

[MilEME09]

CBC is now saying they confirm seven killed. That I think makes this the worst CAR loss since HMCS Kootenay, 1969.

it might be getting worse, wife just told me medical examiner is clearing house to make space (she works the funeral industry)

PM is about to speak

PM Carney Speaks About Incident at CFB Wainwright

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a statement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa about the incident that occurred on October 17, 2026, at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta. According to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), a fire began within the training area of the base and spread quickly...

www.cpac.ca

 

[mariomike]

That I think makes this the worst CAR loss since HMCS Kootenay, 1969.

I got scolded for comparing worst loss at one MCI to another.

Any loss is tragic.

 

[HavokFour]

Carney is live, confirms 4 dead at this time.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Those are probably only the ones that the notifications have been done, there will probably be more...

 

[brihard]

Those are probably only the ones that the notifications have been done, there will probably be more...

That would reconcile the two numbers for now. But hopefully the media has simply over reported bad info.

 

[The Bread Guy]

CBC is now saying they confirm seven killed. That I think makes this the worst CAR loss since HMCS Kootenay, 1969.

Just hearing on CBC radio a live statement from PMMC saying 4 dead & “dozens … seriously” wounded.

Flags at fed buildings across Canada to below @ half mast as well.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Those are probably only the ones that the notifications have been done, there will probably be more...

Good point/context - with some maybe not making it out of hospital

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Good point/context - with some maybe not making it out of hospital

especially now that if I heard correctly the PM mention there where reservists involved too

 

[KTown Cowboy]

especially now that if I heard correctly the PM mention there where reservists involved too

Loyal Eddies were on ground training with 3VP, I believe.

 

[Underway]

Geezus. Somehow that makes it worse. PRes could be as young as 16 or 17.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Credit where due - CBC Radio has been running non-stop coverage. Not perfect - I would have put their lead mil correspondent Murray Brewster hosting and not relying as much on a guy who’s been to Wainwright - but they’re trying. You can tell during the newscasts the junior reporters don’t know the details about the CF - but who in the general public does?

Late add: as of 1250E they’re speaking to Peter Mackay wearing his former DefMin hat.

Late add 2: They seem to be cutting away to longer statements & announcements as if 1306E.

 

[Underway]

That would reconcile the two numbers for now. But hopefully the media has simply over reported bad info.

I suspect that for a long while the Med side on the CAF were not tracking fully casualties. At least beyond the emerg services level.

Unlikely the press were any better

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I expect some serious changes to range protocols and limitations. Plus a likely stand down of training on ranges for a bit. I suspect that a more aggressive burn policy will appear on CFB areas as well to prevent a buildup of fuel load.

 

[MilEME09]

I expect some serious changes to range protocols and limitations. Plus a likely stand down of training on ranges for a bit. I suspect that a more aggressive burn policy will appear on CFB areas as well to prevent a buildup of fuel load.

like any incident, there will be a review of everything, and recommendations made. Silver lining is that with the budget increases, the CAF will have the funding to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again

 

[PPCLI Guy]

Silver lining is that with the budget increases, the CAF will have the funding to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again

That conjecture will only be true if the cause of the event and its subsequent handling is directly related to a lack of funds. Otherwise, this is a counter-productive assumption, and all should probably avoid such statements, less they become part of the media coverage and narrative.