WAINWRIGHT, Alta. - Twenty-seven Canadian Armed Forces members remain in hospital and 12 have been released from hospital, five days after a fire during training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright killed four soldiers, the military said in an update on Thursday.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan named the four members who died as Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding and Private Hayden Lykkemark. Carignan called their loss “a painful reminder of the tremendous sacrifices made by those who serve Canada as members of our armed forces,” and said the military family has come together in grief.
The update said approximately 28 specialized civilian medical personnel with expertise in burn care were transported from Toronto on Thursday aboard a CAF CC-130 Hercules aircraft, arriving in Edmonton that afternoon to support the care of the injured members. The CAF thanked the Province of Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, civilian first responders and hospital staff for the care provided to members and their families, and thanked the Province of Ontario for supporting Alberta in the recovery effort.
In a separate statement issued the same day, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal confirmed that on October 17 a fire was reported on an Automatic Grenade Launcher range at the base, where it had started during routine military training activities. The fire remained within Permanent Danger Area 2 of that range, which restricted firefighters’ ability to conduct direct suppression operations, so it was monitored throughout the day. A subsequent change in wind direction and velocity significantly increased the fire’s intensity and rate of speed, which led to the fatal events. The statement said there is no indication that natural gas infrastructure was involved in or impacted by the fire.
The Military Police investigation is being conducted independently of the CAF chain of command. Its role is to establish the facts and determine whether any criminal or service offences may have occurred, coordinating with external partners, fire specialists and provincial authorities. Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, said in the update: “We remain committed to keeping Canadians informed, as appropriate, as the investigation progresses.” The Provost Marshal’s office said investigators continue to examine all available information and evidence, and that the investigative process must be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it leads. A Board of Inquiry will be conducted as a separate and independent process; comprehensive terms of reference are being developed and the board will be formally convened.
Major-General Wade Rutland, Commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said the tragedy occurred in Alberta but its impact is being felt by families, teammates and communities across Canada, and he offered condolences to everyone grieving a loved one or awaiting news from hospital. The 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry will continue to train so it is ready to deploy on future operations, the update said. The CAF also listed support resources for members and families, including the Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program at 1-800-268-7708 and the Family Information Line at 1-800-866-4546, both available 24 hours a day.
Source: Department of National Defence news release, October 22, 2026
