Fifth Soldier Dies from Injuries Sustained in CFB Wainwright Fire
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco died in an Ontario hospital after being injured in the October 17 fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, bringing the death toll among service members to five.
A fifth Canadian soldier has died as a result of the fire that broke out during live-fire training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta. Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, a member of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, succumbed to his injuries on Friday at an Ontario hospital, the Department of National Defence said in a news release on Saturday.
National Defence Minister David McGuinty and senior military officials, including Gen. Jennie Carignan, the country's top soldier, expressed condolences to Dal Bianco’s family and fellow service members.
"We will honour his dedicated service and continue to stand with all those affected by this tragedy along the difficult road ahead," Carignan said.
The fire erupted on Oct. 17 in a permanent danger area of the base, where a grass fire was already burning, hindering the response of base firefighters. Strong winds, warned about by Environment and Climate Change Canada, caused the flames to spread rapidly. The incident initially killed four service members and injured 39 others. The release noted that 24 soldiers remain hospitalized.