Multiple people have been killed and injured in a major fire at a training area at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta, Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed.

Axar.az reports, citing CBC News, that McGuinty said there were fatalities and injuries on Saturday but did not disclose the number of victims.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said officers were dispatched to assist. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

The fire spread rapidly amid strong winds, crossing the military base’s perimeter fence and reaching areas south of the town of Wainwright.

A “code orange” disaster response was activated in Edmonton as hospitals prepared to treat a large number of patients transported from Wainwright. Medical teams were mobilized across the city, and emergency patients were advised to avoid the University of Alberta Hospital emergency department and seek care elsewhere.

Authorities urged the public to stay away from the incident area and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.