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A fifth soldier has died as a result of the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta, the Department of National Defence says.
Pte. William Douglas Dal Bianco, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), died in an Ontario hospital Friday from injuries he sustained in the fire on Oct. 17, the department said in a news release Saturday.
Some of the country’s top politicians and military officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Gen. Jennie Carignan — the country’s top soldier — have offered condolences to loved ones and troops who knew him.
“We will honour his dedicated service and continue to stand with all those affected by this tragedy along the difficult road ahead,” Carignan said.
Dal Bianco and other service members at CFB Wainwright that day were training to defend the country, choosing to put the futures of other Canadians before their own, Carney said in a statement posted on social media.
“That is service. Now, we serve them,” he said.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on social media she was heartbroken by the news of Dal Bianco’s death.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Canadian Armed Forces community mourning this profound loss,” Smith said.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed that sentiment.
“He put on the uniform to serve Canada, and Canada will not forget him. We pray for his family mourning this terrible loss, and for the 24 soldiers still fighting to recover in hospital,” he wrote on social media Saturday.
The tragedy occurred during afternoon live-fire training at CFB Wainwright, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
Military officials have previously said a grass fire was burning in a permanent danger area, so base firefighters couldn’t access it. Sudden strong winds in the region — Environment and Climate Change Canada issued weather warnings that day for various parts of Alberta — rapidly spread the flames.
In the initial aftermath, the fire killed four service members and injured 39 others.
The DND’s news release from Saturday says 24 soldiers are still in hospital nationwide.
The military said four soldiers were moved to health-care facilities in B.C. and Ontario last week to continue treatment closer to home. Three of them were being cared for at the Ross Tilley Burn Centre at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital: two soldiers receiving around-the-clock care, a third was an outpatient — meaning they don’t have to stay overnight in hospital.
As of earlier this week, 21 soldiers are still in Alberta facilities: 15 were on ventilators and nine were in critical condition, according to Acute Care Alberta.
