Major-General Wade Rutland announced the identities of the four soldiers killed at the CFB Wainwright fire the previous day, during a livestream media conference on Oct. 18. He is seen in a file photo from a visit to CFB Shilo in April 2025. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media
The four soldiers killed in a fire at CFB Wainwright have been identified, and the cause of the fire has been described by Major-General Wade Rutland, inaugural Commander of the 1 Canadian Division, Manoeuvre Formation and previously the Commander of Third Canadian Division, on Oct. 18.
At a late-afternoon live press conference, MGen Rutland named Private Aiden Goulding of North Vancouver, BC; Private Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Sask; Private Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, BC; and Sergeant Morgan Wong of Edmonton, AB; as the soldiers killed on Oct. 17. The three privates were all from Third Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI), and the sergeant was a reservist with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, serving with the Battalion.
Thirty-nine more casualties have varying degrees of injuries, with 19 hospitalized in critical condition, eight in stable condition, and an additional 12 are ambulatory, receiving care for injuries that can be assessed and intervened upon without admission.
MGen Rutland explained that, while circumstances are still under active investigation, the fire started during a twofold high-intensity training exercise with live munitions. He said soldiers from Charlie Company were engaging in preparatory training for deployment to Latvia in April, as well as preparing for a global response task force that can move within hours to any “hot-spot” around the world.
Charlie Company consisted of 84 soldiers from the 350-strong Battalion.
“They were doing two things at the time,” he said. “They were throwing hand grenades on a hand grenade range and conducting what we call a section attack: 10 soldiers attacking a simulated enemy.”
He said that during the training, a grass fire ignited in the training area and was exacerbated by high winds.
“The cause of this fire is under active investigation. What I would say is there were multiple training activities happening throughout the training area at the time. Uncommonly strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly and shift direction towards the range administrative area. The fire did originate within the training area and did cross established fire guards before being contained …”
MGen Rutland refuted any concerns of oil and gas explosions.
An investigation team has been sent in to inspect the oil and gas infrastructure to ensure it is not damaged. He said the initial impression is that it is not.
“Certainly, we do not believe this to be as a result of any oil and gas infrastructure, nor any outside interference,” he said.
“There was a multitude of ordnance moving through the Wainwright training area yesterday: grenade launcher, grenades, small arms, ammunition. Quite frankly, it could have been any of that or none of it … It could be a multitude of things.”
When asked at the livestream conference about the high winds and whether the training should have been paused, Rutland replied that, as a government organization, there is a protocol for everything and they abide by a large safety manual.
He stressed the incident was a “very uncommon occurrence,” with the weather for most of the day well within standard procedures. Winds were below 50 kilometres. The fire was more than a kilometre away, but unexpectedly closed in within 30 to 60 seconds.
“[The speed with which the fire spread] was uncommon, rapid, and I certainly hadn’t seen anything like it. Certainly, we train in all types of conditions because you don’t know where you’re going to operate, so the soldiers on the ground, the leaders, and the base will collaborate on whether training needs to cease …”
The MGen reiterated this is why an investigative team is out there.
“We’ll come up with the right answer. And if our protocols need to change, then they’ll be updated.”
Major-General Wade Rutland announced the identities of the four soldiers killed at the CFB Wainwright fire the previous day, during a livestream media conference on Oct. 18. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Defence David McGuinty are standing behind. (Photo: Screenshot of livestream)
