Four Canadian soldiers died and 39 were injured in a fire during live-fire training at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, with 19 in critical condition as of Oct. 18, provincial officials said.
At an Oct. 18 briefing, Acute Care Alberta chief executive Dr. Sayeh Zielke said eight patients were stable and 12 were receiving outpatient care. The figures account for all 39 people injured.
The Department of National Defence said the fire began at about 6 p.m. ET (22:00 UTC) on Oct. 17, during Exercise APOLLO SHOOTER, involving the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Strong winds carried flames into the unit’s administrative area, the department said. Its public statement did not identify what ignited the fire.
The military named those killed as Sergeant Morgan Wong and Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said, “The loss of life and injuries are heartbreaking.”
Acute Care Alberta said the response included two helicopters, six fixed-wing aircraft and 22 ground ambulances. The emergency operation lasted more than 10 hours, and hospitals had ended their Code Orange protocols by Oct. 18.
CFB Wainwright is one of the Canadian Army’s largest training centers. The military said it is working to establish the circumstances of the fire.
Global News had earlier cited unnamed military sources for a toll of at least seven deaths before the armed forces identified four people killed. EconoTimes previously covered the conflicting reports.
