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Canada confirms deaths and injuries after Wainwright base fire
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Military releases casualty count; ignition cause remains under investigation
Canada’s military confirmed on October 18 that four members were killed and 39 injured in the October 17 training fire at CFB Wainwright, Alberta. Reuters separately reported that officials put 19 people in critical condition. The confirmed toll supplies casualty details withheld in the earlier military statement. National Defence said strong winds rapidly spread the fire into the unit’s administrative area during live-fire training. That account explains the spread without establishing what ignited the fire; Reuters reported that the cause remained under investigation.
Reuters: Four dead, 39 injured at Canadian military base in grass fire fanned by high winds, officials say · National Defence: Four Canadian Armed Forces members killed during training in CFB Wainwright
Military statement gives fire’s start time; casualty details withheld
Canada’s armed forces confirmed deaths and injuries from the incident at CFB Wainwright, Alberta, in an October 18 statement. It said a fire began in the training area at approximately 4 p.m. local time on October 17 and spread beyond that area. Casualty details are being withheld until next-of-kin notifications are complete. Reuters reported that the military and RCMP are investigating. Neither account gives a cause or casualty count.
Reuters: Deaths confirmed after serious incident and fire at Canadian military base · Canadian National Defence: Incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright