15 Wainwright soldiers on ventilators, document shows

Fifteen Canadian soldiers remain on ventilators more than three weeks after the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, according to Global News, which obtained a section of a confidential Alberta Health Services briefing document dated Nov. 5.

The fire on Oct. 17 killed four soldiers and injured 39, as we reported in our earlier coverage of the soldiers named by the military. Global News reported that, as of Nov. 5, 21 soldiers were still hospitalized in Alberta: 10 in critical condition, eight stable in intensive care and three stable in medical units.

An Acute Care Alberta spokeswoman confirmed to Global News that by Nov. 9 the number in critical condition had dropped to nine, with 12 listed as stable across intensive care and medical units. Two weeks ago, 13 soldiers were in critical condition, officials said at the time, a figure we reported as 27 soldiers remained in hospital.

Dr. Sayeh Zielke, interim CEO of Acute Care Alberta, told Global News the hospitalized soldiers remain “gravely ill.” She said some burn patients need prolonged ventilator support because of smoke inhalation or airway injuries, even when their condition is stable.

The briefing document also set out the extent of the burns, Global News reported. Four patients have burns covering 51 to 60 per cent of their bodies, three have burns covering 41 to 50 per cent, and seven have burns covering 30 to 40 per cent. The rest have burns over less than 30 per cent. Fourteen soldiers were being treated at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton and seven at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. The document also recorded three discharges and six repatriations.

The figures emerged after Global News said it pressed the Department of National Defence for almost a week for numbers on the injured. According to Global, DND had not given a public update on the soldiers’ condition since Oct. 22. On Nov. 4 it said 25 soldiers remained hospitalized, 14 had been released and four had been moved to hospitals in British Columbia and Ontario, without critical-condition figures. On Nov. 6 it said it would not comment further, because patient status is the responsibility of provincial health authorities and attending clinicians.

Zielke said Acute Care Alberta will work with the Canadian Armed Forces to provide weekly updates on the injured soldiers going forward, Global News reported. It also reported that Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said on Saturday she had approved an Alberta request for federal assistance to provide more nursing support for 22 injured members of the Armed Forces.

The military has declined to answer many questions about how the fire happened, citing its board of inquiry, which it has said typically takes nine to 12 months. Our earlier stories covered the fire’s speed as a main factor in the deaths and satellite data that questions the military’s account.

Canada News Media has not independently seen the briefing document. The ventilator figure and hospital breakdown are Global News’ reporting, and only the Nov. 9 critical-condition count was confirmed on the record by Acute Care Alberta.

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