Conditions ripe for wildfire that killed 4 at CFB Wainwright: Military vet

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A military veteran said weather conditions were ripe for grass wildfires that killed three soldiers and a reservist and injured 39 others at a Canadian Forces Base in Alberta on Saturday.

Stef Veillet, who lives in Wainwright after retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces, said weather forecasts had called for strong winds since last Wednesday at CFB Wainwright.

He pointed out that small fires were already being contained following training exercises at the base, located about 200 km southeast of Edmonton, whenever anything larger than small arms were fired.

“They decided to keep all the ranges active and keep shooting, totally ignoring the windstorm that was starting,” Veillet said in a Facebook post on Monday evening.

“At 10 a.m., I told my spouse that they’d be setting fires everywhere if they keep shooting in a windstorm.”

Wildfire should have been predicted: Vet

Veillet, who worked at the base for 10 years as a military driver, said he participated in fighting out-of-control fires on three different occasions, including twice as a heavy equipment operator digging trenches to stop the fires’ pathways and another as a bus driver evacuating 800 troops from a blaze that burned their entire camp and several vehicles.

“That one was a very close call for many personnel, but no one was injured or killed thankfully,” Veillet said.

Anyone with experience training troops at CFB Wainright could have predicted the wildfire, he added.

“I don’t know whose decision it was to keep the ranges open … But whoever it was, the victims’ blood is on (their) hands,” he wrote.

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Who’s to blame?

The fire had been burning for hours before strong winds shifted the blaze towards the victims, Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division battalion, told reporters in a Sunday briefing.

“The range control knew there was a fire for several hours. It was decided that that could carry on for a certain amount of time as it was contained,” he said.

“The weather for the majority of the day was well within standard procedures, well below 50 (km/h).”

A commander told Rutland that the fire was a kilometre away from the victims when it seemed to move very quickly.

“He said within 30 seconds to a minute they saw no fire and then there was a fire right on top of them,” Rutland said.

He said the investigation continues as the Canadian Forces national investigative services, the First Military Police Regiment incident response team and the CAF fire marshal team are at the base.

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Dangers of grass fires

Alberta-based wildfire consulting and technology company B&T Wildfire said grass fires are common across the Prairie provinces, including open farmland, ranchlands, parks and undeveloped lots in towns and cities.

They said grass fires are especially dangerous during the spring and fall seasons.

“In the spring, dead grass from the previous year dries out long before new green growth emerges, creating an abundant source of fine fuels.” the company said.

“In the fall, after summer growth has dried and frosts have killed off vegetation, fields and open spaces again become vulnerable.”

The company said homes, farmyards, outbuildings and other structures found near grasslands are highly vulnerable if precautions aren’t taken.

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