Four soldiers killed as fast-moving grass fire sweeps Alberta military base

Four Canadian soldiers were killed and 39 people were hospitalized after a grass fire swept through a training area at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday, military officials said. At least 19 of the injured were in critical condition.

The soldiers who died were identified as Sgt. Morgan Wong and Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark.

Members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, were conducting high-intensity combat training with live munitions when the fire reached an administrative area near a section attack range. The military said the grenade range was not affected.

Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said the fire had been about one kilometre away before the wind shifted. Soldiers went from seeing no nearby flames to having the fire upon them within 30 to 60 seconds, he said, calling its speed uncommon. Strong winds, dry grass and the area’s terrain contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, according to reports.

Officials had been monitoring a fire on the base for several hours and had determined that training could continue for a time. Evacuations began within 20 to 30 minutes after the incident was reported, Rutland said.

A fire marshal is investigating the cause. Authorities have ruled out terrorism and said preliminary findings did not indicate that oil and gas infrastructure caused the blaze. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it “one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.”