Four Canadian Armed Forces members dead, 25 still in hospital after CFB Wainwright fire
Four of the 25 still hospitalized have been moved to B.C. and Ontario burn centres, the Department of National Defence said Nov. 4.
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Four Canadian Armed Forces members have died and 25 remain in hospital after a fire that began during a routine training exercise at CFB Wainwright, Alberta, on Oct. 17. Fourteen of the injured have since been released.
The Department of National Defence said in an update dated Nov. 4 that four of those still hospitalized have been moved to health-care facilities in British Columbia and Ontario, following medical assessment and recommendations from medical professionals. The department said the moves bring them closer to their home communities and families.
The four people killed were named by the department as Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark. The affected unit was Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion PPCLI, which was preparing for deployment to Latvia in April and May.
The fire stayed inside Permanent Danger Area 2 of the automatic grenade launcher range. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland has said the nearby grass fire was known beforehand and not considered a threat, and that it moved about one kilometre after the wind shifted.
Investigations are under way. Military Police are conducting an independent investigation, and a Board of Inquiry led by the Canadian Armed Forces will establish how the incident occurred and what lessons can prevent a recurrence. The department has not said when either will report.
What caused the fire, and has the military said whether the danger area's safety procedures were followed?
What is the condition breakdown of the 25 still hospitalized, and how many are critical?
When will the Military Police investigation and the Board of Inquiry report?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
