Fifth Canadian Soldier Dies After Wainwright Fire: Toll, Names & Inquiry
Pte. William Douglas Dal Bianco died on Nov. 13 from injuries in the Oct. 17 fire at CFB Wainwright, raising the toll to five as 24 soldiers remain in hospital.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Spc. Hector Corea
OTTAWA — A fifth Canadian soldier has died from injuries suffered in the October 17 fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, the Department of National Defence said on Saturday, November 14, raising the death toll from the training accident to five. Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, died on Friday, November 13, in an Ontario hospital.
The fire broke out at about 4 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on October 17, during live-fire training at the base, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, as part of Exercise Apollo Shooter. About 84 soldiers were in attack training when strong winds pushed a grass fire onto the troops. In addition to the five who died, 38 members were injured; 24 remain in hospital and 14 have been released.
Key Takeaways
- Private William Douglas Dal Bianco died on November 13 in an Ontario hospital; his death was confirmed on November 14.
- The death toll from the October 17 fire at CFB Wainwright now stands at five, with 24 soldiers in hospital.
- The four soldiers killed on the day of the fire were Sergeant Morgan Wong, Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding and Private Hayden Lykkemark.
- Military police are investigating independently of the chain of command, alongside a board of inquiry; no findings yet on what started the fire.
Who were the five soldiers killed in the Wainwright fire?
Dal Bianco served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, known as 3 PPCLI. The four soldiers killed on October 17 were identified by the Canadian Armed Forces the following day: Sergeant Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton; Private Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Private Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver, British Columbia; and Private Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, British Columbia.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media post that Dal Bianco and his fellow soldiers had been training to defend Canada. Defence Minister David McGuinty extended his deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow service members mourning Dal Bianco’s loss, while General Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said the armed forces were heartbroken by his death.
What happened during Exercise Apollo Shooter at CFB Wainwright?
Members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from 3 PPCLI were in live-fire training at CFB Wainwright when the fire broke out. The troops were on a grenade launcher range when wind drove flames from a grass fire toward them, and the blaze spread into the unit’s administrative area. The military first reported 39 injured members; its latest release puts the injured total at 38, with 24 still in hospital and 14 released.
| Figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Soldiers killed | 5 |
| Members injured | 38 |
| Still in hospital | 24 |
| Released from hospital | 14 |
What is the investigation into the Wainwright fire?
Three investigations are under way, including one by the Canadian Forces Military Police, working independently of the chain of command to establish the facts and determine whether any criminal or service offences occurred. A board of inquiry will examine the circumstances and recommend preventive measures. The November 14 release gave no findings on what ignited the fire.
The death comes as Canada’s government has taken a more active role in international security questions, including reimposing sanctions on 11 Iranian entities and joining G7 foreign ministers in Paris to discuss Ukraine and Iran. The armed forces said support continues for the families of the soldiers who died and those still in hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many soldiers died in the CFB Wainwright fire?
Five soldiers have died: four were killed on October 17, and Private William Douglas Dal Bianco died on November 13 from injuries suffered in the fire. A further 38 members were injured, with 24 still in hospital.
Who was the fifth soldier to die after the Wainwright fire?
Private William Douglas Dal Bianco, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He died on November 13 in an Ontario hospital, where he had been receiving treatment since the October 17 fire.
Where is Canadian Forces Base Wainwright?
CFB Wainwright is a Canadian Armed Forces training base in east-central Alberta, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, used for combat and live-fire training ahead of overseas deployments.
What caused the fire at CFB Wainwright?
That has not yet been established. The fire broke out during live-fire training and spread rapidly in strong winds, but the department has not said what ignited it. Military police are investigating.
