New evidence challenges military’s account of deadly Wainwright fire
Weather records, satellite observations and expert analysis suggest the deadly CFB Wainwright fire was growing for hours before it overran soldiers.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) provided an account of a deadly fire at CFB Wainwright that occurred on October 17. According to the military, the base was monitoring a grass fire that intensified with unusually strong winds, consuming a kilometer in just 30 to 60 seconds. The military labeled the event as "entirely anomalous." However, a Global News analysis of satellite imagery and weather records, reviewed by seven Canadian wildfire experts, presents a different account.
The experts noted that the fire had already spread before the day of the incident, and that the fire's rapid spread was unlikely given the noted weather conditions. Moreover, the military's account of the incident's timing has changed. Initially, officials claimed the fire started around 4 p.m., but later stated it began "several hours earlier."
The military's Board of Inquiry, which will investigate these discrepancies, could take over a year to conclude.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
