The fire at Canada's Wainwright base caused deaths and injuries / Firefighters are still battling the flames

A fire that broke out on Saturday at Wainwright military base, in eastern Alberta province, Canada, caused deaths and injuries, according to Defence Minister David McGuinty. The number of victims and the cause of the fire have not yet been announced.

The flames spread rapidly because of strong winds, the municipal district said in a Facebook post. Firefighters continued to respond at the base, located approximately 210 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, while authorities described the situation as still “active and delicate.”

David McGuinty said in a video message that the incident resulted in both deaths and injuries. The minister did not provide details about the circumstances surrounding the fire, but announced that an investigation would be launched soon.

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that a “serious incident” had occurred, without specifying its nature.

Wainwright Base is one of the Canadian Army’s most important training facilities. It is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, and the base is used by land forces units from Edmonton.