1st Canadian Division

They need to deal with their own experiences as well.

I'd like to thank Major General Watlin and all from the 1st Canadian Division.

I acknowledge how difficult it must have been to deal with this response

as they were affected themselves by this tragedy.

Bonjour.

Thank you, General Carignan.

Major General Wade Rutland, Commander of the 1st Canadian Division.

Five days ago, on the afternoon of 18 October, we lost four soldiers during training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright.

Canadian Armed Forces officials have provided an update on a fire at an Alberta military base that killed four soldiers and injured dozens.

Commander of the 1st Canadian Division, Major General Wade Rutland, started the briefing by clarifying some earlier remarks.

I just want to start by correcting the record on two things I told you Sunday.

First, I said the injured soldiers were conducting a section attack range.

So let's take you live to the news conference.

and Major General Wade Rutland, Commander, 1st Canadian Division.

They will be briefing you on the incident that occurred in Wainwright yesterday.

Thank you.

Alberta and Canada stand with you together.

Thank you, Premier.

I now introduce Major General Wade Rutland, Commander, 1st Canadian Division.

Right, good afternoon.

Among the issues investigators were probing was why such training went ahead given the forecasted gust of wind.

Major General Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, confirmed a fire had been noted burning about a kilometer away with the troops in the field and within 30 seconds to a minute.

it struck one section this was uncommon rapid and i certainly hadn't seen anything like it certainly we train in all types of conditions he said and now the base will collaborate on whether training needs to cease in such conditions rutland refused to speculate on the actual cause of the fire It is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 30 to 60 seconds.

He said a formal board of inquiry will now probe the cause and the response, an in-depth investigation that may take at least a month.

The Department of National Defence says an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and there are no indications at this stage that it was the result of any terrorist activity.

Major General Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, says the blaze started as a grass fire and developed fuelled by high winds.

He says soldiers training at the base were caught off guard by the advancing flames.

During the conduct of a training, a grass fire ignited in the training area.

We begin in Edmonton, where government and military officials have provided an update on the fire at Alberta's CFB Wainwright that's left four Canadian Forces members dead and dozens injured.

Major General Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, says at 4 p.m. yesterday, the Army responded to a serious fire during training involving Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry 3rd Battalion.

During the conduct of a training, a grass fire ignited in the training area.

The cause of this fire is under active investigation.