17 Oct 2026: Major fire at CFB Wainwright

[brihard]

Maybe a dumb question, but what do the SARtechs bring to the table in this kind of scenario? Search and extraction from a fire area is a core firefighter job function that does need some training and equipment that the SAR techs don't have, so if more resources were needed there are a lot of other avenues to get that augmented (like other FDs in a reverse aid to power).

Just asking as a distraction to what is really a tragic situation.

They’re all highly trained paramedics. Very useful for ongoing casualty care pending CASEVAC.

 

[PrairieFella]

Maybe a dumb question, but what do the SARtechs bring to the table in this kind of scenario? Search and extraction from a fire area is a core firefighter job function that does need some training and equipment that the SAR techs don't have, so if more resources were needed there are a lot of other avenues to get that augmented (like other FDs in a reverse aid to power).

Just asking as a distraction to what is really a tragic situation.

Medical care is one of their specialities.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Without derailing this too much, the wind was definitely not unexpected. It was the result of the passage of a sharp cold front that had been forecast.

I'm pretty much 100% confident a weather warning for the base would have been issued, along with the public warning for the area. There is a CAF unit dedicated to producing weather forecasts and warnings for CAF sites across the country.

The investigation will bring all of the details to light over time, and many lessons are likely to be learned.

I happened to be in central Alberta when that cold front passed through. Environment Canada forecasted winds 50 gusting 80 kmh and there was no weather warning that I saw. What we actually got locally where I was at was 80 gusting 120kmh, causing widespread power outages and wind damage.