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Blaze that killed 4 soldiers on Canadian military base sparked on grenade launcher range, officials say
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- A fire broke out on October 17 at the automatic grenade launcher range during routine training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, killing four soldiers and injuring 39 others.
- The blaze initially stayed within a restricted danger area, limiting firefighting efforts, but changed wind conditions caused it to spread rapidly, leading to the fatalities and injuries.
- The soldiers affected were from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and Army reservists conducting live-fire exercises, with some preparing for a NATO mission in Latvia.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that ferocious winds caused the fire to jump nearly a kilometer in under a minute, and 50 investigators are probing the incident for causes and safety procedure reviews.
- The four soldiers who died have been identified, and 27 injured remain hospitalized while 12 have been treated and released; authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.
