Four Canadian soldiers were killed and dozens more injured after a fire broke out at the military base in Wainwright, Alberta, officials said. The blaze, which started during a grenade‑training exercise, was quickly fanned across the installation by strong winds, turning a routine drill into a deadly incident.
The Canadian Army confirmed that the explosion of a training grenade ignited nearby material, and that high winds carried the flames across the base’s training grounds and barracks. Emergency responders struggled to contain the fire as it spread, leading to the tragic loss of life and a large number of injuries among personnel on site.
Base officials reported that the injured soldiers received medical attention on the scene and were later transferred to hospitals for further treatment. The exact number of those wounded has not been disclosed, but the term “dozens” was used by authorities.
Wainwright is home to one of Canada’s largest army training facilities, regularly used for live‑fire exercises and other combat‑readiness drills. The incident has prompted an internal investigation to determine the precise cause of the explosion and to assess safety protocols during live‑munition training.
The Canadian Defence Ministry said it will provide support to the families of the fallen soldiers and to those recovering from injuries, while a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire will be conducted.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
