27 soldiers still in hospital as Wainwright holds vigil

Twenty-seven soldiers injured in Saturday’s fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright remain in hospital, 13 of them in critical condition, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday, as the town held a vigil for the four soldiers killed and dozens hurt.

About 150 people gathered late Wednesday at the Wainwright Church of the Nazarene, where the names of the dead were read aloud before a moment of silence, The Canadian Press and CBC News reported. The soldiers killed were Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton.

“These courageous soldiers willingly placed themselves in harm’s way to secure our continued peace and freedom as Canadians,” said Pastor Dan Marchuk of the Wainwright Pentecostal Assembly.

Roughly 84 soldiers of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry were on a field exercise on Saturday, Oct. 17, when strong, sudden winds drove a nearby grass fire into their path. Four were killed and 39 were taken to hospitals across Alberta. Twelve have since been discharged.

Ontario is sending help, including 19 burn unit nurses and five operating room nurses, Smith announced Wednesday. “I understand that changing the dressings on some of the soldiers who were severely burned … can take up to two hours per patient,” she said. “I’m very, very grateful.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his province would also send equipment.

Earlier Wednesday, about 300 people lined an area highway waving flags as two buses carried soldiers who were at the training area but not hurt back to Edmonton, escorted by RCMP and military police vehicles.

“It’s a Highway of Heroes kind of thing in our own little community,” said Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh. He said activity at the base is returning to normal. “I noticed the cannons are firing again because they never rest,” he said.

About 50 investigators from the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, the RCMP and the military fire marshal are working to determine how the fire unfolded, CBC News reported. The RCMP joined the investigation soon after the fire. Senior military officials were scheduled to give an update to reporters at 3 p.m. MT Thursday.

The military named the four soldiers killed in the fire. Our first report on the fire has details of the initial response.

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With files from The Canadian Press and CBC News.