17 Oct 2026: Major fire at CFB Wainwright

[MilEME09]

Some sat images coming out of how big the fire got. Large section of the PDA got burnt

https://twitter.com/x/status/2112609763372782047

 

[mariomike]

Saw this from a colleague in New York.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2112559729868513487

Best of the Star | The Star

Thestar.com is one of Canada’s largest online news sites.

www.thestar.com

 

[Underway]

I was in the main SEASPAN yard today. The giant Canadian flag on the jetty was half mast. One supervisor told me "we got you bro" no context needed.

Made me realize that even though we are the last responders, the civi side has our backs big time on this one. Situation was reversed and they didn't hesitate.

These old eyes, foggy suddenly.

 

[KTown Cowboy]

Just received this email from my CoC on behalf of the CDS:


Colleagues,


On 21 October at 1100 local, all Commands, Formations, Bases, Wings, Units and Detachments are to observe a two-minute period of silence in remembrance of the tragic events that unfolded at CFB Wainwright.


The observance will provide CAF members and the broader Defence Team an opportunity to:

• Honour the four CAF members who lost their lives;
• Keep in our thoughts those who remain in critical condition and continue their recovery;
• Recognize the profound impact of this tragedy on families, friends, colleagues, caregivers, and the communities affected; and
• Reflect on our collective commitment to supporting one another during this difficult period.

It is a moment to pause as one team, to reflect on the service of those we have lost, to support those who continue to suffer and to reaffirm our commitment to one another during this difficult time.



While local circumstances and operational requirements will vary, leaders should consider conducting the observance as a collective activity rather than as an individual pause wherever practicable. At a minimum, organizations are encouraged to gather personnel in a manner appropriate to their setting, provide an opportunity for reflection, and mark the moment with visible acts of remembrance. This may include remarks from the commander and senior leadership team, and a spiritual reflection offered by a chaplain or faith representative where available. The intent is not to prescribe a uniform ceremony, but rather to ensure members have a meaningful opportunity to come together, remember those we have lost, support those affected, and reflect on the impact of the tragedy on the wider military family.



Thank you for your support in ensuring this moment is observed with the dignity, respect, and reflection it deserves.

 

[The Bread Guy]

For the record, thoughts & prayers from Ortona via its mayor, given the PPCLI & LER's sacrifices there in WW2.

 

[mariomike]

Been 30 odd years since I lived in Alberta last so can't remember. I live/work in Manitoba now, in remote First Nations, and my nightmare is something happening like the mass stabbings that happened in SK a couple years ago or a passenger aircraft hammering in, especially somewhere where there wasn't many trained people. Trying to have medevac aircraft diverted for something like that would really mess up the air transport scheme of things here - I'd actually seriously consider asking for rapid calls to be put in to have CAF support for a Herc with medevac crew(s) based off the regional MAJAID plan (should they still exist). We had two light plane crashes where I used to work in the space of a year - one minor, other involved casualties. The fatal one was outside of my sphere and was handled by CAF resources.

The other issue here is this in rural Alberta - you were talking about a large municipal EMS, which much like the folks here in Winnipeg, doesn't see past their urban boundaries (ie the tip of its nose). Edmonton is roughly 90-120minute drive - IIRC correctly, transfers I'd done in my much younger days by road from where we used to bivouac to Uof A hospital was roughly an hour and three-quarters depending on traffic. Other major/majorish centres are Lloydminister (and it's not that major TBH), Calgary and Red Deer, Lloyd being fairly close, though the hospital is technically on the Saskatchewan side of the city. An MCI response in those rural counties/municipalities would likely come in the way of a multi domain response and likely coordinated at a provincial level, which could also allow to possibly bring in CAF resources by way of provincial call for Aid to Civil Power and there is 1 Field Ambulance in Edmonton, as well the Reserve Fd Ambs in Edmonton and Calgary.

Not sure what the protocol is in the rest of Canada.

Ours was Critical Care Bypass ( CCB ). Meaning the hospital was closed to ambulances.

I recall one of our PCP crews on the radio transporting a young man in severe respiratory distress . No advanced life-support paramedics were available . The emergency department - only 3 to 4 minutes from the house - was on critical care bypass.

The PCP crew was directed to transport him to another hospital 4 times farther away. He ultimately died despite PCP efforts to resuscitate him en route to the second hospital.

Now , our department mandates life-threatening/critically ill patients be transported to the closest hospital - regardless of bypass status.

 

[lenaitch]

Been 30 odd years since I lived in Alberta last so can't remember. I live/work in Manitoba now, in remote First Nations, and my nightmare is something happening like the mass stabbings that happened in SK a couple years ago or a passenger aircraft hammering in, especially somewhere where there wasn't many trained people. Trying to have medevac aircraft diverted for something like that would really mess up the air transport scheme of things here - I'd actually seriously consider asking for rapid calls to be put in to have CAF support for a Herc with medevac crew(s) based off the regional MAJAID plan (should they still exist). We had two light plane crashes where I used to work in the space of a year - one minor, other involved casualties. The fatal one was outside of my sphere and was handled by CAF resources.

The other issue here is this in rural Alberta - you were talking about a large municipal EMS, which much like the folks here in Winnipeg, doesn't see past their urban boundaries (ie the tip of its nose). Edmonton is roughly 90-120minute drive - IIRC correctly, transfers I'd done in my much younger days by road from where we used to bivouac to Uof A hospital was roughly an hour and three-quarters depending on traffic. Other major/majorish centres are Lloydminister (and it's not that major TBH), Calgary and Red Deer, Lloyd being fairly close, though the hospital is technically on the Saskatchewan side of the city. An MCI response in those rural counties/municipalities would likely come in the way of a multi domain response and likely coordinated at a provincial level, which could also allow to possibly bring in CAF resources by way of provincial call for Aid to Civil Power and there is 1 Field Ambulance in Edmonton, as well the Reserve Fd Ambs in Edmonton and Calgary.

Much of the population has no clue what it's like in remote Canadaland. Heck, most urban people don't understand what it's like in the near rurals (''what do you mean the ambulance/fire truck is half an hour away').

From my time working the remote FNTs in n/w Ontario many moons ago, memory serves we had a homicide with suspect at large; our response time was about 3 hours, and that was a scramble. We had six people drown at a set of rapids; response time - two days (weather). None of the airstrips and most of the aircraft and pilots that operate up there are IFR.

 

[YZT580]

Not sure what the protocol is in the rest of Canada.

Ours was Critical Care Bypass ( CCB ). Meaning the hospital was closed to ambulances.

I recall one of our PCP crews on the radio transporting a young man in severe respiratory distress . No advanced life-support paramedics were available . The emergency department - only 3 to 4 minutes from the house - was on critical care bypass.

The PCP crew was directed to transport him to another hospital 4 times farther away. He ultimately died despite PCP efforts to resuscitate him en route to the second hospital.

Now , our department mandates life-threatening/critically ill patients be transported to the closest hospital - regardless of bypass status.

even Walter Reed only has 20 beds. Evidently the american main center is in San Antonio. Britain farms theirs out to the civic hospitals just like us, I guess. Very sadly, I suspect the end report is going to recommend expanding our capabilities which, since health is a provincial affair and there are very few multi-casualty incidents, will receive lots of bobbing heads and no cash to implement. The GOC is the only entity I know of that has the resources to spend on a dedicated unit for mass casualties. For the rest, it will come down to the odds game. What are the odds and if the number is low enough, no money will be spent.

Much of the population has no clue what it's like in remote Canadaland. Heck, most urban people don't understand what it's like in the near rurals (''what do you mean the ambulance/fire truck is half an hour away').

From my time working the remote FNTs in n/w Ontario many moons ago, memory serves we had a homicide with suspect at large; our response time was about 3 hours, and that was a scramble. We had six people drown at a set of rapids; response time - two days (weather). None of the airstrips and most of the aircraft and pilots that operate up there are IFR.

2 days eh? Haven't there been horror stories of people waiting in a hall in a major city hospital for that long?

 

[Gordon Dundas/]

Much of the population has no clue what it's like in remote Canadaland. Heck, most urban people don't understand what it's like in the near rurals (''what do you mean the ambulance/fire truck is half an hour away').

From my time working the remote FNTs in n/w Ontario many moons ago, memory serves we had a homicide with suspect at large; our response time was about 3 hours, and that was a scramble. We had six people drown at a set of rapids; response time - two days (weather). None of the airstrips and most of the aircraft and pilots that operate up there are IFR.

I got introduced to this mess almost 10 years ago While providing Safewalks at Global TV in Winnipeg there was almost nothing to do except listen to the scanners .
Some of the ambulance calls pretty much made me decide never to get into an accident more the 20 miles out of town.
Then working hospitals having an ambulance coming from Brandon or Kenora in the opposite direction merely reconfirmed the wisdom of my original decision.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Another briefing coming tomorrow (22 Oct, 1500 Mountain, 1700 Eastern, 1800 Atlantic):

Officials from the Canadian Armed Forces to hold media briefing to provide update on CFB Wainwright incident - Canada.ca

General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, together with Major-General Wade Rutland, Commander of 1st Canadian Division, and a representative from the Canadian Forces Military Police Group, Canadian Forces Provost Marshal will provide an update on the incident that occurred at Canadian...

www.canada.ca