Mark Carney says Canada is in 'mourning' after four soldiers killed in 'violent, fast-moving' fire

The flames that killed four Canadian soldiers and left 19 people in critical condition began with a smouldering grass fire that quickly grew in the base's training area where personnel were carrying out exercises.

Officials identified the dead as Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding and Private Hayden Lykkemark.

In an address to the nation from Ottawa, Mr Carney said: "The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our Armed Forces whom we have lost.

"Canadians come together in crisis; that is the best of our country."

The Prime Minister said he had ordered flags on federal buildings across the country to be lowered to half-staff to honour the victims.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said many of the injured will require "weeks and months" of specialised, intensive medical care.

When the fire began, Major General Wade Rutland said 85 soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were in "high-intensity" combat training using live munitions at the base, which is located in a prairie setting.

The soldiers were preparing for deployment to Latvia, where Canadian forces currently have their largest international military operation.

Mr Rutland said the incident remains under investigation and declined to speculate on what caused the grass fire.

Officials do not believe the region's extensive oil and gas infrastructure contributed to the incident, ruling out "outside interference."

CFB Wainwright had 1,310 military and civilian personnel stationed there as of 2021, according to census data.

The base houses the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which runs training scenarios and exercises for the army.

Mr Carney said those impacted by Saturday's fire came from military bases across the country.

The Prime Minister said military and civilian firefighters fought the fire through the night in "some of the worst conditions imaginable."

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said 39 patients remained in hospital, and at least 19 were in critical condition.

She said: "To the families who lost loved ones, an entire province and millions of Canadians nationwide grieve with you.

“To our injured and to our military community, and to the people of Wainwright, Alberta stands shoulder to shoulder with you, and not just today in the immediate aftermath, but every step of the way along the road to recovery.

“In the days ahead, our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and whether the flames set off a series of blasts.

Health staff in Edmonton said they declared a "code orange," or mass-casualty event, to coordinate the medical response for patients being transported from Wainwright.

Wainwright, with a population of about 6,600, is just north of the base.

The municipality posted on social media that the fire had crossed the base fence into the nearby district, but no evacuation orders were issued.