Fifth Canadian soldier dies weeks after wildfire engulfs military training exercise in Alberta

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 15, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC NEWS

The death toll from a fire that swept through a military training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has risen to five after another soldier succumbed to his injuries.

The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed that Private William Douglas Dal Bianco of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, died on November 13 at a hospital in Ontario, where he had been receiving treatment since the October 17 incident.

The fire broke out while approximately 84 soldiers were participating in a live-fire training exercise at the military base, located about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

Strong winds reportedly caused flames from a grass fire to spread rapidly toward the troops, engulfing their training area and leaving dozens injured.

The military said 38 members of the Canadian Armed Forces were injured in the incident. As of November 14, 24 soldiers remained hospitalized, while 14 had been discharged.

Dal Bianco is the fifth soldier to die from injuries sustained in the blaze. The other fatalities were 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.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed condolences to Dal Bianco’s loved ones, recognizing the soldiers’ commitment to serving and protecting the country.

Defence Minister David McGuinty and Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan also paid tribute to the fallen soldier and pledged continued support for the families and injured military personnel.

Investigations are underway to establish how the fire started and whether safety procedures were properly followed. Military police are conducting a separate investigation, while a military board of inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.

The October 17 fire is being regarded as one of the most serious peacetime training tragedies involving the Canadian military on home soil.