Alberta: Four Canadian soldiers were killed and 39 others injured after a rapidly spreading wildfire engulfed troops during a live-fire military exercise at a military base in Alberta, Canada. Nineteen of the injured soldiers are in critical condition, officials said.
Major General Wade Rutland said on Sunday that military officials had been aware of the fire for several hours but believed it was under control and that training could continue. However, a sudden change in wind direction caused the flames to spread rapidly towards the soldiers.
Speaking at a press conference in Edmonton, Rutland said the fire had been about one kilometre away when the wind shifted. He described the flames covering that distance in just 36 seconds as an extraordinary event.
Citing a commander who was at the scene, Rutland said the soldiers were surrounded by the fire in less than a minute.
Authorities are investigating the incident and the circumstances that allowed the fire to reach the troops so quickly.
