Canada confirms deaths, injuries as fire hit military base in Alberta

Canadian defense minister confirms there have been fatalities and injuries in a serious incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in east-central Alberta that caused a significant fire.

The country's armed forces said in a statement late Saturday that it will not release casualty numbers until the next of kin notification process is complete.

Paremedics were seen loading patients into an ambulance at the Wainwright Health Centre late into the night Saturday, after an explosion and subsequent fire in one of Canada's busiest military training bases.

A Code Orange alert was declared in hospitals in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta, to co-ordinate care for a mass influx of incoming patients.

A local doctor told CBC News healthcare facilities around the base became "completely overwhelmed," adding "It's a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster."

The blaze erupted at around 4pm local time and strong winds with gusts reaching 100 kilometres per hour stoked it to spread beyond the military base into the surrounding rural area.

Authorities say the fire burning south of the town of Wainwright was contained by 11pm and that property and critical infrastructure were protected.

At a press conference in Ottawa, National Defence Minister David McGuinty described the situation as "very active and delicate" and noted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote in a social media post he was in close contact with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

The fire comes days before the province is set to vote on beginning a referendum that could lead to its independence from Canada.