Four deaths have been confirmed in the aftermath of yesterday’s CFB Wainwright fire, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in a live mid-day media statement on Oct. 18.

Described as a “violent, fast-moving fire” which swept through Canadian Armed Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, the Canadian Prime Minister said the situation is evolving rapidly.

“What followed [the fire] was one of the worst tragedies for the Forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.”

“I regret that I can confirm at this time that four service members have lost their lives, and their next of kin have been notified. Dozens more are seriously wounded,” he said at the media conference.

“Those affected came from Bases right across this country. They included reservists and soldiers from the storied Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Throughout Canada’s history, the Princess Pats have fought for freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

In the First World War, in the Second, in Korea, in Afghanistan, and during numerous peacekeeping missions over decades, that is the record. That is the standard. Those are the values of the women and men who were training yesterday on the Alberta Prairie when disaster struck, and that commitment, that service, those ideals are the debts that we as Canadians owe to them.”

Prime Minister Carney said our country depends on the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces.”

“Our rights, our freedoms, our very way of life, are fought for and defended every single day by Canadians who answer the call. CFB Wainwright is where the women and men of our Armed Forces learn to do the hardest things this country can ask of anyone. Those we lost, those who were injured, were training to defend Canada, to serve Canada.  Now, Canada serves them.

We will be there for their families for as long as they need. We will care for the injured through every step of their recovery, and we will stand by the women and men of our Armed Forces as they bear the weight of this loss. They will not carry it alone, because in Canada, we take care of one another.”

Senior officials on the ground in Wainwright, including the Minister of National Defence, Canada’s Emergency Preparedness, and Major-General Wade Rutland of the Canadian Army, will provide a formal briefing later Sunday, joined by provincial ministers.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the close collaboration that has occurred between all levels of government,” he said.

Being in consistent contact with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, he said ministers and officials have coordinated the response, deploying resources from the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety, local fire departments, first responders, and Alberta Emergency and Medical Services.

“The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost, and I have asked that the flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast to honour them.”

“Canadians come together in crisis. That is the best of our country. Military and civilian crews fought this fire throughout the night in some of the worst conditions imaginable, risking their lives to protect their fellow Canadians,” the Prime Minister said.

READ MORE: FIRE AND FATALITIES AT CFB WAINWRIGHT

READ MORE: NUMBER OF DEATHS AND CASUALTIES NOT YET CONFIRMED BY CAF IN CFB WAINWRIGHT FIRE