Four Canadian service members died and dozens of others were injured in "serious incident" that sparked a fire at a military base.

Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Four Canadian service members died and dozens of others were injured in "serious incident" that sparked a fire at a military base in east-central Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Sunday.

Canada's Department of National Defense said the incident that caused the fire happened around 4 p.m. Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, about 130 miles southeast of Edmonton.

Carney gave the update on the incident in a nationally televised address. He said the government would support service members and their families "as they bear the weight of this loss." He called what happened at the base a "serious incident."

"CFB Wainwright is where the women and men of our armed forces learn to do the hardest things this country can ask of anyone," Carney said. "Those we lost and who were injured were training to defend Canada. To serve Canada.

"Now Canada serves them."

The identities of the soldiers killed in the incident were not revealed, but Carney said the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry was in training at the base at the time. The unit has troops based in Edmonton and at Canadian Forces Base Shilo in Manitoba.

"The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost," Carney said.

Officials haven't revealed the exact nature of the incident that sparked the Saturday fire. The number of those injured and the extent of the damage at the base were also unknown, The New York Times reported.

Carney said more details would be revealed in an afternoon briefing.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as "significant and tragic."

"The fire spread rapidly beyond the boundaries of the training area, while military and civilian emergency services responded quickly to control that fire and to support those affected by this tragic event," the Department of National Defense said in a statement.

"The full extend of the impact remains under assessment. Our immediate priority is supporting those affected and notifying next of kin."

A resident who lives near the base told the CBC that Saturday morning he heard non-stop "booms" coming from the facility, which is typical during military exercises. He then said he heard a bigger "bang," at which point noises stopped.

Winds picked up and he said he saw smoke and fire from his house.

The Department of National Defense told CBC there's no indication that the incident was the result of terrorist activity.