At least four people died after a fire ripped through a Canadian military base where soldiers were throwing hand grenades during a training exercise. The blaze broke out at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Sunday, prompting an emergency response to contain the inferno.
It is believed the soldiers had been carrying out a training exercise requiring them to throw hand grenades to each other when the fire started. Maj-Gen Wade Rutland confirmed there were 'multiple training activities happening throughout the training area at the time'. He added that 'Uncommonly strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly and shift direction towards the range administrative area.'
High-Intensity Combat Training
A further 39 people were injured in what was believed to be a grass fire that sparked kilometres away, with an investigation into the cause now active. It is thought the wind changed direction, but the speed at which the flames spread was 'not normal'.
'This was high-intensity combat training with live munitions,' Maj-Gen Rutland shared at a news briefing. 'They were throwing hand grenades on a hand grenade range and conducting what we call a section attack, 10 soldiers attacking a simulated enemy.' He clarified that it was those on the section attack who were injured, not the grenade range exercise.
Casualties and Response
The names of those who lost their lives have been identified as Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding, and Private Hayden Lykkemark. Rutland shared that the incident has caused 'a lot of stress and strain' on those left at the base.
Casualties have been taken to various hospitals in the city of Edmonton, some 120 miles from the base, as local health facilities became overwhelmed following the incident. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X: 'Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected. We are working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities. Premier [Danielle] Smith and I are in close contact as are our relevant ministers and officials.'
Emergency services said the fire was under control by 11pm with critical infrastructure successfully protected.
