WAINWRIGHT, Alberta — Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people were injured, including 19 critically, when a fast-moving fire overtook soldiers conducting live-fire combat training at a military base in Alberta, officials said on Oct. 18.
Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland said military officials had known about the fire for hours but believed it was sufficiently contained to allow training to continue, before winds suddenly shifted and sent flames racing toward the soldiers, the Associated Press reported.
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“The fire was a kilometer away when the wind shifted,” Rutland said. “That is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 36 seconds.”
The fire broke out during high-intensity combat training involving soldiers from Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. About 84 soldiers were split between a grenade range and an area where they practiced attacks on simulated enemy positions, and the fire swept into the second training area.
Rutland said investigators had not yet determined what ignited the grass fire.
Officials said 39 people in total were receiving medical care, according to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Of those, 19 were in critical condition, eight were stable and 12 were ambulatory with less serious injuries, said Sayeh Zielke, chief executive of Acute Care Alberta.
