Devastating fire at CFB Wainwright started on automatic grenade launcher range, official says

Jesse Winter Vancouver Published YesterdayUpdated 46 minutes ago Open this photo in gallery: Soldiers stationed at CFB Wainwright fly the regimental flag of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), in Wainwright, Alta., on Wednesday. Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press Comments Save for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story. Log InCreate an account A wildfire that killed four Canadian Forces soldiers and injured dozens more at a military base in Wainwright, Alta., on Saturday started on the base’s automatic grenade launcher range, Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan told reporters on Thursday. Hanrahan is the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, the top soldier in charge of Canada’s military police, which are conducting one of several concurrent investigations into the fire. The military is conducting its own board of inquiry, and Alberta’s Chief Medical Examiner is also investigating. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Brig.-Gen. Hanrahan said her investigation shows the fire started at what’s called the AGL range, as part of routine training in that area. She did not say whether live firing of explosive rounds ignited the fire. Initially, the fire stayed within what is known as a “permanent danger area” of the range, which prevented firefighters from attacking it directly. According to Canadian Forces Base Wainwright’s range standing orders, permanent danger areas can be contaminated with unexploded munitions. “It was therefore monitored throughout the day ,” Brig.-Gen. High winds from a forecast cold front later caused the fire to suddenly change direction and accelerate rapidly, Brig.-Gen. It spread to a different range in another part of the base and overran soldiers’ positions. Understanding exactly when, how and why that happened will be a key focus of the three investigations, she said. Victims of Wainwright fire remembered as young people dedicated to service The four soldiers killed were identified as Private Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B. C.; and Sergeant Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton. Initially, 39 injured soldiers were sent to various hospitals. As of Thursday, 27 remained in hospital, according to Major-General Wade Rutland, Commander of the Army’s 1st Canadian Division. “We are heartened that 12 soldiers are no longer hospitalized, although they will still continue to receive follow-up care,” he said. “The soldiers remaining in hospital are in serious condition.” Maj.-Gen. Rutland said the military’s board of inquiry will work “as long as it takes” in order to be thorough and uncover what happened. “We will not shy away from answers, and whatever hard truths they may reveal,” he said.