Canada has deployed 50 investigators to determine how a fast-moving fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright killed four soldiers and injured 39 people during training, and why exercises continued while officials knew of a nearby fire.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the investigation in Parliament on Monday. Carney said the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is leading the inquiry with help from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He said strong winds drove the fire across nearly a kilometre in less than a minute, surrounding soldiers gathered at the Alberta base.
Military officials said they had known about the grass fire but believed it was contained enough for training to proceed. The wind then shifted suddenly before the flames reached the troops. The fire broke out on Saturday, October 17, during live-fire training involving members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and army reservists.
Nineteen of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. The four soldiers killed were identified as Sergeant Morgan Wong and Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding, and Hayden Lykkemark. Investigators have not determined what started the blaze.
The inquiry is expected to examine both how the fire spread and the decision to continue training.