Deadly fire at Canada military base moved a kilometre 'in 30 to 60 seconds'

In practice, the fire that killed four members of the Canadian military and injured dozens of others on Saturday spread with alarming speed, accounts suggest.

Key points

• "The fire was 1km (0.6 miles) away when the wind shifted, " remarked Maj-Gen Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division of the Canadian Armed Forces.
• The blaze began at regarding 16: 00 (22: 00 GMT) on Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, one of the country's busiest military training bases.
• According to The BBC has, sgt Morgan Wong, Pte Shaun Farrell, Pte Aidan Goulding and Pte Hayden Lykkemark have died.
• Forecasters had issued a wind warning on Saturday for sizeable parts of Alberta, predicting wind gusts of up to 90km/h (66mph), Canadian broadcaster CBS stated.
• Regarding 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers are on site on a typical day.

It broke out in a grassy training area at a base in the province of Alberta and spread rapidly due to solid winds.

"The fire was 1km (0.6 miles) away when the wind shifted, " remarked Maj-Gen Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division of the Canadian Armed Forces. "It is not normal for a fire to move a kilometre in 30 to 60 seconds."

Prime Minister Mark Carney described it as "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime". Authorities have ruled out the possibility of "any terrorist activity" being to blame for the fire.

For context, the blaze began at regarding 16: 00 (22: 00 GMT) on Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, one of the country's busiest military training bases.

Of the 39 injured individuals receiving care in hospital, at least 19 are in a critical condition.

Warren Thirsk, an emergency department doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, informed Canadian broadcaster CBC that the number of patients involved in the incident had "completely overwhelmed" healthcare facilities in Wainwright.

What we know so far regarding deadly fire at Canadian military base. Tributes are being paid to the servicemen who died.

Patricia Farrell, the mother of Shaun Farrell, wrote on Facebook that it was "with heavy hearts that we share the news that our son, Shaun Farrell, has passed away to be with our Heavenly Father".

Wong received a tribute from the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, of which he was part. The regiment was "deeply saddened", it wrote in a Facebook post of its own. It sent "heartfelt condolences to families, friends, and fellow soldiers".

For context, the mother of Goulding, Sonia Monk, remarked her late son was an exceptional athlete and a natural leader. "He was always the guy who kept everybody's spirits up, " she informed CBC. "He really was the light of my life."

In account of Saturday's events, Rutland remarked to journalists that members of the infantry had been conducting "high-intensity combat training with live munitions" at a grenade range and attack range.

He remarked to journalists that office-holders knew regarding the fire on the base for a number of hours, but it was decided that training "could carry on for a certain amount of time".

"I spoke to my commander last night, and he said within 30 seconds to a minute they saw no fire, and then there was a fire right on top of them, " Rutland remarked.

Rutland remarked it was not yet known what exactly caused the fire.

Some witnesses had remarked they had heard explosions, fuelling speculation that oil and gas infrastructure may have been hit and sparked the fire. But Rutland remarked authorities "do not believe this to be a result of any oil and gas infrastructure".

According to The Canadian Armed Forces has, "while the incident remains under investigation, at this time, there are no indications that it was the result of any terrorist activity".

Forecasters had issued a wind warning on Saturday for sizeable parts of Alberta, predicting wind gusts of up to 90km/h (66mph), Canadian broadcaster CBS stated. According to Rutland, the investigation may take at least a month.

Wainwright, regarding 130 miles east of Edmonton, Alberta's capital, is one of the main bases employed by the Canadian military for live-fire training exercises, and it houses troops from Canada and allied countries.

In short, deadly fire at Canada military base moved a kilometre ' in 30 to is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.