A deadly fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta killed four service members and injured dozens of others. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
The blaze began at about 16:00 local time on Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright.
It erupted in a grassy training area and spread rapidly due to strong winds.
By the time soldiers were in danger, the fire had moved nearly a kilometre in just 30 to 60 seconds.
Key Facts
- The fire killed Sgt Morgan Wong, Pte Shaun Farrell, Pte Aidan Goulding, and Pte Hayden Lykkemark.
- At least 19 of the 39 injured are in critical condition.
- Officials confirmed the fire was not caused by terrorist activity.
- Canadian Armed Forces say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
- Training was ongoing when the fire broke out, involving live munitions at grenade and attack ranges.
- Wind gusts of up to 90km/h were forecasted, contributing to the fire’s rapid spread.
- Base personnel reported seeing no fire for several hours before it appeared suddenly near troops.
Official Responses
Maj-Gen Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said the fire moved from a distance of one kilometre to the troops in under a minute.
He described it as ‘not normal’ for a fire to travel that far in such a short time.
He said training continued for a period after the fire was reported, as officials assessed the situation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as ‘one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime’.
He confirmed the fire was driven by ferocious winds and that injuries occurred in a few minutes.
Carney said the cause of the fire is not yet known.
Personal Tributes
Patricia Farrell, mother of Pte Shaun Farrell, shared on Facebook that her son has died ‘to be with our Heavenly Father’.
Sonia Monk, mother of Pte Aidan Goulding, said he was an exceptional athlete and a natural leader.
She said he was ‘always the guy who kept everybody’s spirits up’ and called him ‘the light of my life’.
Carney described Pte Goulding as ‘a generous and deeply loyal friend’.
He said Pte Hayden Lykkemark was known for his quick wit and dream of a career in law enforcement.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Canadian Armed Forces say the incident remains under investigation.
They have ruled out any link to oil and gas infrastructure.
Rutland said the investigation may take at least a month.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty declined to comment on whether the incident would affect the provincial election, which was underway at the time.
He said: ‘This is not the time to speak about that issue at this stage.’
Background
Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of the country’s busiest military training bases.
It hosts about 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers on a typical day.
It is used for live-fire training with troops from Canada and allied nations.
What to Watch Next
Officials will continue to assess the fire’s origin and investigate possible contributing factors.
Medical facilities in Wainwright have been overwhelmed by the number of injured.
Public tributes and family statements are expected to continue as the investigation unfolds.
For more on the incident, see our coverage of the major fire at the Canadian military base.
Original source
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Two fire trucks shown driving towards a thicket of trees with smoke seen in the distance. Via original publisher. Image source
