Fifth Canadian soldier dies from grenade launcher range fire
Pvt. William Douglas Dal Bianco succumbed to injuries sustained during an October training exercise at a base in Alberta.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Five Canadian soldiers have died from injuries suffered during a military training exercise in October.
The Canadian Armed Forces announced on Saturday that Pvt. William Douglas Dal Bianco died Friday. He was receiving treatment at a hospital in Ontario. He had been hospitalized since the fire broke out on Oct. 17 at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. The base is located southeast of Edmonton in Alberta.
Approximately 84 soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were conducting attack training when the incident occurred. Winds pushed flames from a fire on a grenade launcher range toward the troops. Officials confirmed last month that the fire started on that specific range.
The military stated on Saturday that 24 soldiers remain hospitalized. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post that the soldiers were training to defend Canada. He noted that they chose to safeguard the country with their bright futures still before them.
The other four soldiers who died were Pvt. Shaun Farrell, 23, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Pvt. Aidan Goulding, 23, from North Vancouver, British Columbia; Pvt. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, from Langley, British Columbia; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, from Edmonton.
Military police are investigating the fire. A separate board of inquiry will examine the circumstances and recommend prevention measures. Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland said officials knew about the fire for hours but believed it was contained. Training continued until winds shifted suddenly. Carney called the event one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada's military on Canadian soil. He told reporters last month that the military will get answers as expeditiously and transparently as necessary.
