Soldiers killed in Saturday's CFB Wainwright fire identified as 19 remain critical
The military has named the four soldiers killed in Saturday's fire at an army base in Wainwright, Alberta. Officials said 39 people were taken to the hospital and 19 are in critical condition, CBC News and the BBC reported. A commander said strong winds spread a grass fire during live-fire training.
The Canadian Armed Forces has named the four soldiers killed in Saturday's fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in east-central Alberta, CBC News, the BBC and Global News reported.
They are Sergeant Morgan Wong of Edmonton and Privates Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, British Columbia, CBC News and Global News reported. All four served with the 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, CBC News and Global News reported.
Officials said 39 people were taken to the hospital, including 19 in critical condition, CBC News and the BBC reported. Many suffered severe burns, officials said, according to the BBC.
Major General Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said the fire broke out during high-intensity combat training with live ammunition, CBC News and Global News reported. Strong winds spread the grass fire quickly and shifted it toward the soldiers, he said, according to CBC News and the BBC. CBC News reported that he said the gusts spread the fire a kilometer in less than a minute.
Rutland said the cause of the fire is not yet known, CBC News and the BBC reported. The military said investigators do not believe any explosions were caused by oil or gas lines on the base, the BBC reported.
Range control knew about a fire on the base for several hours, but it was decided that training could go on for a time, Rutland said, according to CBC News.
An internal military memo said the fire risk was low before an "unexpected and sudden wind change," Global News reported. The memo said 31 soldiers had very serious or serious injuries and six to eight more had minor injuries, Global News reported. The memo warned the numbers could change.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst tragedies on Canadian soil in peacetime and ordered flags on federal buildings lowered to half-mast, CBC News and Global News reported.
What we know: The four soldiers killed in Saturday's fire at CFB Wainwright have been named, and 19 people remain in critical condition.
What we don't: What started the fire, and why training went on while it was burning.
Where outlets agree CBC News, the BBC and Global News report that the four soldiers killed in Saturday's fire at CFB Wainwright have been named.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.