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Fifth Canadian soldier dies from injuries caused by large fire at military base
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- A fifth Canadian soldier, Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, has died from injuries sustained in a grass fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright during a live-fire training exercise on 17 October.
- The initial fire caused four deaths and injured 38 military personnel, with 24 still hospitalized and 14 discharged as of the latest update.
- The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds and was likely ignited by a grenade launcher on the base's grenade range, according to an investigation.
- Firefighters were unable to immediately combat the blaze because it occurred in a danger area with potential unspent explosives, complicating the emergency response.
- Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Defence Minister David McGuinty, expressed deep condolences and commitment to supporting the affected families and military community.
