Four Canadian soldiers killed at base after huge grass fire raged across a kilometer in just 30 seconds
A grass fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright killed four soldiers and injured 39 during military training on Saturday. The speed of the fire’s spread and the high number of casualties have made it a major peacetime tragedy for Canada’s armed forces.
The fire began about a kilometre from a training range where troops were using live munitions, then spread to the unit’s administrative area as winds shifted. Nineteen injured people were reported in critical condition; officials said the cause remains under investigation and they had found no indication of terrorism or outside interference.
- Four soldiers died in a fast-moving fire at a Canadian base.
- Thirty-nine people were injured, 19 critically.
- Investigators are examining the cause.
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Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is a military training site in Alberta, used by Canadian troops for exercises. Training can take place on large areas of open grassland, where weather and wind can affect how quickly a fire spreads.
The Canadian Armed Forces are the country’s military, and the base’s personnel include soldiers taking part in training and staff supporting their units. Fires near training areas can put both groups at risk, particularly when live munitions are in use.
The deaths and injuries have made this a major peacetime loss for Canada’s armed forces. The circumstances matter to military safety, and investigators are examining how the fire began and spread.