What happened
A major fire broke out at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, resulting in the deaths of four Canadian Armed Forces members and injuring 39 others. The incident occurred on October 17, with 19 of the injured in critical condition.
The fire started as a grass fire in the training area, but strong winds caused it to spread rapidly towards the military members. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with no indication of terrorist activity.
The four soldiers who lost their lives were identified as Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pvt. Shaun Farrell, Pvt. Aida Goulding, and Pvt. Hayden Lykkemark. Canadian flags will fly at half mast on federal buildings across the country to mark the tragedy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the Canadian Armed Forces on Canadian soil. The province of Alberta has deployed resources to ensure all those injured receive the treatment they need, with flags at provincial government buildings lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.
