A deadly incident broke out Saturday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, one of Canada's busiest military training bases, killing and injuring people and igniting a major fire.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said a 'serious incident creating a major fire' occurred at the base, adding that Ottawa is 'working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities.'

Defense Minister David McGuinty confirmed 'there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base.' The Wainwright RCMP received a call for assistance shortly after 4 p.m. local time.

The scale of the casualties has stunned officials. Defense Minister McGuinty said he 'cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory' and described the situation as 'very, very active and delicate.'

According to the New York Post, citing Global News and multiple military sources, at least seven people were killed, and the explosion occurred during a live-fire training exercise where a gas line or well was struck.

China Daily, citing local media, likewise reported that munitions may have struck a natural gas pipeline or gas well, triggering the explosion. Officials have not confirmed a cause or casualty toll.

A code orange, an emergency response protocol for a high number of patients, was declared in Edmonton, according to CBC.

Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital, said Wainwright's healthcare centers were 'completely overwhelmed' and patients were being diverted to hospitals across the city.

He called it 'a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster' with more patients 'than any of us want to count right now.' Injured military members were treated at the Wainwright Health Centre, where ambulances lined up outside.

Flames jumped the base's fence and spread rapidly into the surrounding rural area, driven by a windstorm that battered large parts of Alberta with gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour, according to ABC News.

The Municipal District of Wainwright said the blaze was 'being held' by late Saturday night, with property and critical infrastructure protected.

No evacuation order was issued, but firefighters from multiple jurisdictions helped battle the fire and residents were urged to stay clear of the area and keep roads open for emergency crews.

The base had around 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers according to the New York Post, while Reuters reported 1,310 military and civilian personnel as of the 2021 census. The nearby town of Wainwright has roughly 6,600 residents.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the fire 'significant and tragic,' saying it was affecting many of the province's military personnel.

The Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident, with McGuinty promising 'more to say in the coming hours and days.' The Canadian Armed Forces said casualty figures will not be released until next of kin are informed.

General Jennie Carignan, chief of Canada's Defense Staff, said the forces' priority is 'the welfare of our members, their families and their community.' Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre urged people to follow emergency instructions.

The fire also disrupted advance voting for Monday's Alberta independence referendum, with two polling locations closing early.