King Charles III and Queen Camilla have expressed their condolences after four Canadian soldiers were killed in a fast-moving fire at a military base in Alberta.
The King said he and his wife were “greatly shocked and saddened” by the tragedy at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, where dozens of service members were also injured.
In a message to Canada, Charles offered his “deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences” to the victims, their families and everyone affected by the disaster.
Four soldiers killed during training
The fire broke out on Saturday, 17 October, while members of the Canadian Armed Forces were taking part in a high-intensity training exercise.
The four soldiers who died were identified as Sergeant Morgan Wong and Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark.
Officials said 39 service members were taken to hospital, including at least 19 who were reported to be in critical condition.
The soldiers were members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. They had been training ahead of a planned deployment to Latvia in 2027.
Strong winds drove flames towards soldiers
Military officials said a grass fire had been burning in the training area but was believed to be sufficiently contained for the exercise to continue.
However, a sudden change in the weather reportedly brought winds of up to 96 kilometres per hour, causing the flames to spread with extraordinary speed.
Major-General Wade Rutland said the fire travelled approximately one kilometre in less than a minute, leaving soldiers with almost no time to escape.
Emergency services mounted a major response involving ground ambulances, aircraft and military search-and-rescue personnel. Hospitals across Alberta treated the injured, while Edmonton health services declared a mass-casualty alert.
Cause remains under investigation
Canadian military officials and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating how the fire began and whether safety procedures were followed.
Authorities said there was no evidence of terrorism or other outside interference.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the country’s worst peacetime military tragedies on home soil. He ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-mast in honour of those killed.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said many of the injured soldiers could require prolonged medical care.
The King serves as Canada’s head of state and has regularly issued personal messages following major tragedies affecting the Commonwealth nation.
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