Fifth Canadian Soldier Dies After October Base Fire
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco died from injuries sustained in a grass fire that broke out during live-fire training at CFB Wainwright in October.
A fifth Canadian soldier has died from injuries suffered when a grass fire swept through a military training area on 17 October. Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, who had been receiving treatment in Ontario, died on Friday, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a statement.
The fire ignited during a live-fire exercise by 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta and spread rapidly across a kilometre in seconds, catching many personnel off guard. Four soldiers were killed initially and dozens were injured; a total of 38 military personnel were reported injured, with 24 still in hospital and 14 released as of Saturday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X that Canadians are holding Private Dal Bianco's loved ones and others grieving from the tragedy in their hearts, describing the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil. Defence Minister David McGuinty expressed his deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues, and pledged continued support for the armed-forces community.
Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Jennie Carignan said the armed forces were "heartbroken" by the loss. An investigation indicated the fire was likely sparked by a grenade launcher fired on the base's grenade range, and firefighters were unable to tackle the blaze immediately because it was in a danger area that could contain unexploded ordnance.