Canadian Military Exercise Explosion Triggered by Grenade Launcher Training, Officials Say
A fire that killed four soldiers and injured 39 others at a Canadian airbase was sparked during routine grenade launcher exercises, the Canadian Armed Forces announced.
A catastrophic fire that claimed the lives of four soldiers and injured 39 others on a Canadian military airbase was initiated during grenade launcher exercises, officials confirmed on Thursday. The incident occurred on October 17 at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.
Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan stated that the blaze began on the automatic grenade launcher range during routine military training activities. Initially, the fire was confined to a designated danger area, which initially limited firefighting efforts. The Canadian Armed Forces reported that 27 soldiers remain hospitalized, with 12 having been treated and released.
Major General Wade Rutland added that military officials were aware of the fire for hours but believed it was contained, allowing training to continue. However, a severe windstorm swept across Alberta, bringing gusts up to 62 mph and significantly increasing the fire's intensity and speed. This change in wind direction and velocity caused the flames to spread rapidly into a training area where approximately 84 soldiers were present.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated earlier in the week that the fire was "driven by ferocious winds" and "jumped nearly a kilometer in less than a minute to where soldiers were gathered." He also announced that a team of 50 investigators, led by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, was probing the incident. The soldiers involved were preparing to join a NATO mission in Latvia in the spring.
The soldiers who lost their lives were identified as Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding, and Private Hayden Lykkemark. A vigil was held on Wednesday to honor the soldiers affected by the tragedy.