4 killed in CFB Wainwright fire identified as dozens remain in hospital

The Canadian Armed Forces has confirmed that four service members lost their lives in a fire at CFB Wainwright on Saturday. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland informed reporters on Sunday that Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pvt. Shaun Farrell, Pvt. Aidan Goulding, and Pvt. Hayden Lykkemark were among the deceased. Their families have been notified. Rutland expressed condolences to the families and injured personnel, emphasizing that the well-being of service members remains the top priority.

The four members were serving with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry at CFB Edmonton and participating in a training exercise at Wainwright. The training aimed to prepare them for a global response task force, including deployment to Latvia in April and May. The fire began as a grass fire in the training area; however, strong winds quickly spread it, causing it to change direction towards the range administrative area.

Firefighters from military and civilian services worked to control the blaze, which was under control by late Saturday night. Environment Canada had issued a warning about high winds earlier in the day, with gusts reaching up to 100 km/h, causing significant damage across Alberta. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith provided updates on the incident, stating that 39 patients were hospitalized, with at least 19 in critical condition.

A local resident reported that her son, Shaun Farrell, was among those killed in the fire. Patients were transferred from the Wainwright Health Centre to four other hospitals, including the University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, and Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.