Fifth Canadian soldier dies from injuries sustained in Wainwright training fire
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco became the fifth service member to die after a grass fire engulfed a training exercise at CFB Wainwright, with dozens still hospitalized.
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry died on Friday after being treated for injuries sustained during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta last month, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a news release. The incident occurred on Oct. 17 when intense winds drove a nearby grass fire into the area where roughly 350 troops were conducting a routine drill, causing the blaze to breach the base fence and threaten surrounding rural areas and the town of Wainwright. Dal Bianco is the fifth soldier to die in the aftermath; the other four are Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark. The CAF reported that 24 service members remain in hospital while 14 have been released.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow service members mourning the loss of Private William Douglas Dal Bianco. No words can ease the pain of losing a loved one, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by this tragedy," Defence Minister David McGuinty said in a news release. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sympathy on social media, noting that the soldiers were training to defend Canada and that the nation now owes them a debt of service.