Four members of the Canadian military have died and dozens were injured in a major fire at a base in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday. The fire broke out Saturday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, a significant training facility, and has since been contained. Officials stated the cause is unclear but does not appear to be tied to terrorist activity.
Carney described the incident as "one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime." The deceased soldiers have been identified as Sgt Morgan Wong, Pte Shaun Farrell, Pte Aidan Goulding, and Pte Hayden Lykkemark. Of the 39 injured, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reported Sunday evening that at least 19 are in critical condition.
Fire and rescue teams remain on site to manage potential flare-ups. The incident occurred while infantry members were engaged in "high-intensity combat training with live munitions" at a grenade and attack range. Officials indicated that multiple training activities were underway, and uncommonly strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of a grass fire that ignited approximately 1 kilometer away and moved toward the administrative area of the range.
"There was a multitude of ordnance moving through the Wainwright training area," explained Maj-Gen Wade Rutland, noting the presence of grenade launchers, grenades, small arms, and ammunition. He added that the incident is not believed to be a result of oil and gas infrastructure or outside interference.
Soldiers and reservists from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were among those injured on the attack range. The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed in a statement that there are no indications of terrorist activity at this time, and the incident is under investigation.
Wainwright, located about 210 kilometers east of Edmonton, is a primary site for Canadian military live-fire training exercises. The base typically houses approximately 690 military personnel and 300 civilian workers.
The influx of patients overwhelmed local healthcare facilities in Wainwright. Emergency departments declared a code orange, a disaster-response protocol, and patients were transferred to facilities across Alberta. STARS, the regional air ambulance service, deployed aircraft and crews from multiple cities to assist in the response. Witnesses described ambulances arriving throughout the night with sounds of distress.