Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that four Canadian service members died and dozens more were seriously injured in Saturday's fire and explosion at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, calling it one of the forces' worst peacetime tragedies on home soil, Global News reports. Several military sources told the broadcaster that a preliminary investigation suggests a munition used in a live training exercise started a fast-moving grass fire that led to the explosion; separate sources have put the death toll at seven or more. The armed forces said the fire began in a training area at about 4pm local time and spread rapidly beyond it, on a day when Environment Canada had warned of gusts of up to 100km/h. Why live-fire training went ahead in high winds is unclear. Flags on federal buildings are at half-mast, and Defence Minister David McGuinty is heading to the area.
Source: Global News