Canadian Military: Fire at Western Military Base Caused by Live Ammunition Training

On October 18, Xinhua News Agency reported from Ottawa (Reporter Lin Wei) that the Canadian military confirmed on the 18th that a serious fire at the Wainwright military base in Alberta province on the 17th was caused by live-fire training. The incident has resulted in the deaths of four soldiers, with another 39 injured and receiving treatment in hospitals, at least 19 of whom are in critical condition.

According to military reports, the live-fire training conducted on the 17th sparked a prairie fire. Canadian Major General Wade Rutland stated that soldiers were conducting live-fire training, including throwing grenades at the grenade range, and performing tactical exercises referred to by the military as "section attacks."

Rutland said that due to strong winds at the time of the incident, the fire spread rapidly. Although nearby residents reported hearing explosions when the fire broke out, Rutland stated that the incident was not caused by any oil and gas infrastructure or external factors. He mentioned that the military has dispatched a professional team to inspect the relevant oil and gas infrastructure, and preliminary inspection results indicate that it was not damaged, but further verification will continue.

The Wainwright military base covers an area of over 600 square kilometers and is an important joint arms live-fire training ground in Canada, housing more than a dozen stationed units, including the Canadian Maneuver Training Center and the Canadian 3rd Division Training Center. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on the 18th that this incident is "one of the most serious tragedies to occur on Canadian soil during peacetime for the Canadian Armed Forces."