--- title: "Fifth Canadian Soldier Dies of Wounds After Fire at CFB Wainwright" description: "Five Canadian soldiers have died as a result of a fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta that broke out on October 17 during live-fire exercises. The last of the wounded, Private William Dal Bianco, passed away on Friday at an Ontario hospital." date: 2026-11-15T12:31:40.476Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fifth-canadian-soldier-dies-after-wainwright-base-fire tags: [canada, military, fire, cfb-wainwright, tragedy] author: "Roman V." publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Fifth Canadian Soldier Dies of Wounds After Fire at CFB Wainwright ![Neon shield with a flame inside on a dark blue background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/15/pyatyy-soldat-konchal-sya-posle-pozhara-na-kanaadskoy-baze/pyatyy-soldat-konchal-sya-posle-pozhara-na-kanaadskoy-baze-1.webp) ## Key Points - Private William Dal Bianco became the fifth victim of the fire at CFB Wainwright, which broke out on October 17. - A total of 38 service members were injured in the incident; by Saturday, 24 remained in hospitals and 14 were discharged. - The investigation points to a grenade launcher shot at the firing range as the likely cause of the fire. - Prime Minister Mark Carney and military leaders expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The Royal Canadian Air Force has confirmed that Private William Dal Bianco died on Friday from injuries sustained during a massive wildfire that swept through Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta. His death marks the fifth fatality from the tragedy that occurred on October 17 during a live-fire training exercise. Prior to this, four service members died as a result of the blaze, and dozens sustained injuries of varying severity. ### Circumstances of the Death According to the Canadian Armed Forces, Private Dal Bianco was receiving treatment at a medical facility in Ontario, but his injuries proved to be non-survivable. An official statement regarding his death was released on Friday, and by Saturday, military officials reported that 24 other service members were still hospitalized receiving treatment, while 14 individuals had already been discharged. In total, 38 service members were injured in the incident. ### Investigation Progress As the investigation established, the probable cause of the fire was the use of a grenade launcher at the base's range: according to preliminary conclusions by investigators, the fire was triggered by a shot from this weapon. Military officials stated that the flames traveled a distance of about a kilometer in a matter of seconds, catching many on the base off guard. Base fire departments were aware of the blaze but could not begin firefighting operations because the ignition point was in a hazardous zone where unexploded ordnance might be present. ### Scale of the Incident At the time of the incident, personnel from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group were conducting live-fire exercises on the base. Military officials noted that strong winds quickly spread the fire across the territory, and nearby hospitals became overwhelmed with incoming wounded. Firefighters battled the flames all night. The Canadian Armed Forces previously described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for the military on Canadian soil. ### Authorities' Reaction Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences on the social media platform X, stating that Canadians hold the loved ones of Private Dal Bianco and everyone affected by this tragedy in their hearts. Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan stated that the army is "devastated" by the loss of the service member, while Defence Minister David McGuinty extended his "deepest condolences" to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, emphasizing a commitment to supporting families and the military community through this difficult period. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Fifth Canadian soldier dies from injuries caused by large fire at military base](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmrlgn4x2xw8o) - Primary source: death of Private Dal Bianco, 38 injured, 24 in hospitals, 14 discharged, cause — grenade launcher. - [Fifth Canadian soldier dies after fire at military base](https://operativmm.az/en/post/fifth-canadian-soldier-dies-after-fire-at-military-base/87039) - Confirms the date of October 17 and the death of the fifth service member. - [Fifth Canadian soldier dies from injuries caused by large fire at military base](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmrlgn4x2xw8o) - Reflects BBC coverage with identical figures and details. - [Fifth soldier dies after grass fire sweeps through Canadian military base](https://www.inkl.com/news/fifth-soldier-dies-after-grass-fire-sweeps-through-canadian-military-base) - Confirms the death of the fifth soldier and the location — Alberta. ## FAQ ### Who became the fifth victim of the fire at CFB Wainwright? Private William Dal Bianco, who was receiving treatment in Ontario and passed away on Friday. ### How many service members were injured in total? A total of 38 service members were injured; by Saturday, 24 remained in hospitals and 14 had been discharged. ### What is the probable cause of the fire? According to the investigation's findings, the fire was triggered by a grenade launcher shot at the base's firing range.