Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 were hospitalised or injured, including 19 in critical condition, after a grass fire overtook troops at CFB Wainwright, Alberta.
The dead were identified as Sgt. Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
The fire overtook soldiers during live-fire, high-intensity combat training on Saturday. Officials had known about the fire for hours but believed it was contained enough for training to continue. A sudden wind shift drove the flames toward the soldiers, with the fire advancing about one kilometre in about 30 to 60 seconds. Winds reached up to 96 km/h. The fire began about 4 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The cause of ignition has not been determined. Officials ruled out outside interference and said oil and gas infrastructure was not believed to be involved. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the Canadian Forces on home soil, and flags were lowered to half-staff.