The Canadian Armed Forces says its Board of Inquiry into the grass fire that killed four soldiers at CFB Wainwright in Alberta could take nine to 12 months to complete, CTV News reports.
A Department of National Defence spokesperson said the fact-finding inquiry would look at how the fire happened and what lessons could prevent a repeat. It will run alongside separate investigations by the National Investigation Service, supported by military police, the RCMP and Alberta's chief medical examiner. The Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Jennie Carignan, has promised to publish its report. The Defence Minister, David McGuinty, said on Wednesday that the inquiry's terms of reference were still being worked out.
Alberta's premier, Danielle Smith, said 27 soldiers remained in hospital, 13 of them critically ill. A wildfire researcher questioned why training went ahead given forecasts of gusts up to 90 km/h.
Source: CTV News
