Another Canadian soldier has died from injuries sustained in a massive fire that engulfed a military base during a live ammunition training exercise. His death brings the number of soldiers who have lost their lives in the tragedy to five, while dozens more were injured.
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, who was receiving medical treatment in Ontario, has passed away. The news was confirmed by the Canadian Armed Forces, which expressed its sorrow at his loss.
The serious incident occurred on October 17 at the Canadian military base Wainwright, in the province of Alberta. The fire broke out during a live ammunition exercise and spread rapidly due to strong winds, engulfing the military training area.
Initially, four people were killed and dozens more were injured. According to military officials, the flames spread over a kilometer in a matter of seconds, catching many on the base by surprise.
In total, 38 military personnel were injured in the fire. According to the data, 24 of them were still receiving treatment in hospital, while 14 others had left after receiving medical assistance.
Firefighters battled the flames throughout the night, while hospitals in the surrounding area were overwhelmed with a large influx of injured people. However, the intervention to extinguish the fire was made difficult, as firefighters at the base were aware of the fire but could not intervene immediately. The area where the fire had broken out was considered dangerous, due to the possibility of unexploded ordnance.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was allegedly caused by firing a grenade launcher at the military base's grenade range.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst tragedies to hit the country's armed forces in peacetime. After confirming the death of the fifth soldier, he expressed condolences to the victim's family and all those dealing with the consequences of this tragedy.
Meanwhile, Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, said the Armed Forces are shocked by the loss of Dal Bianco. Defence Minister David McGuinty also expressed his condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, stressing that institutions will continue to support the families affected by this serious event.
