Wainwright mayor says he worries for his community
Mayor Bruce Pugh says it’s a heavy day in Wainwright, Alta., but the fatal fire that started on a nearby military base has been contained and is not a danger to the town.
We’ve just heard from the mayor of Wainwright, a town near the base. Bruce Pugh says the town has been supporting the emergency response in every way it can.
“So as far as the involvement of our town, our first responders, our fire department has been fighting the fire and our local hospital has been treating the patients as they’ve been brought into it, trying to do the best we absolutely can,” Pugh told my colleague Jessica Campbell, who is on the ground in Wainwright.
Pugh said it’s a very heavy day for the town and he’s worried about his friends, colleagues, and community.
“We have neighbours who are either serving or former members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We’re integrated, our kids playing the same hockey teams, attend the same schools,” he said.
“We share our lives. And so that part is very hard. Of course, we’re also really worried about our community members and friends and neighbours who work in our Wainwright hospital.”
Pugh wasn’t able to confirm fatality or injury numbers either, but said although details are “sketchy,” he believes this incident would be the largest mass casualty event the community has ever seen.
