Four Canadian Armed Forces members have died as a result of a massive fire at CFB Wainwright and dozens more are seriously wounded, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday.

“The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our Armed Forces whom we have lost. And I have asked the flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-mast to honour them,” Mr. Carney said said in an address from Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

“We are praying for the wounded.”

Mr. Carney said the Department of National Defence will provide an update in Wainwright, Alta., later on Sunday.

Defence Minister David McGuinty was en route to the province to get briefed on what he described as the “terrible incident” at CFB Wainwright