Blaze that killed 4 on Canadian military base sparked on grenade launcher range
A blaze that killed four soldiers and injured dozens more on a Canadian military base in Alberta broke out on a grenade launcher range during training exercises, officials said Thursday.
The fire ignited on the automatic grenade launcher range of Canadian Forces Base Wainwright during routine training activities on Oct. 17. Brig. Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, stated that the fire remained within the range's Permanent Danger Area 2, which limited the ability of firefighters to battle it directly. Crews were forced to monitor the fire throughout the day instead.
The situation escalated when a subsequent change in wind direction and velocity significantly increased the fire's intensity and rate of speed. This change led to the tragic events that followed, as the flames jumped nearly a kilometer in less than a minute to where soldiers were gathered. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the winds as ferocious, which allowed the fire to overtake the training area.
Investigation and next steps
The fire overtook soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and Army reservists conducting live-fire training. About 84 soldiers from Charlie Company were training at two locations, one for throwing grenades and another for practicing attacks on simulated enemy positions. The fire swept into the second area, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to 39 others.
We will get the answers to what caused this terrible tragedy, as expeditiously and transparently as necessary.
Carney said that 50 investigators had been brought in to probe the fire, with the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service leading the effort and support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland stated that investigators would examine whether winds drove the flames toward the soldiers or whether the fire spread unseen through vegetation. They will also examine whether military safety procedures need to change.
The military identified those killed as Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton; Pvt. Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Pvt. Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, British Columbia; and Pvt. Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, British Columbia. The soldiers were preparing for a mission next spring to reinforce Canadian troops serving with NATO in Latvia.
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