U.S. ambassador offers Canada help almost a week after Wainwright tragedy

OTTAWA — U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says the United States has offered to help following the deadly fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta.

Four soldiers were killed and 39 injured on Oct. 17 when a fire that began during a training exercise on an anti-grenade launching range was picked up by fierce winds.

The military has said the fire took less than a minute to race about a kilometre, where a different training exercise was taking place on the base about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

Twenty-seven soldiers remain in hospital, including 13 in critical condition, many of them with severe burns.

In a social media post Friday, almost a week after the tragedy, Hoekstra said the U.S. government has made a formal offer of assistance and resources to Canada’s federal government to help support the recovery of soldiers affected by traumatic burns “should it be deemed necessary.”

The military said there are three different investigations into the tragedy and could not say when more answers will be available about how the tragedy occurred.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre thanked Hoekstra for reaching out to him as MP for the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where the base is located.

“We deeply appreciate this gesture of support for our injured soldiers and their families at such a difficult time,” Poilievre wrote in a social media post Friday.

The federal Opposition leader said his office has informed the defence minister and the Alberta government of the offer “whether these additional resources and expertise are needed.”

“The safety, security and recovery of the heroes injured at CFB Wainwright are our top priority,” Poilievre said.

“Our prayers remain with our heroes and their families.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.

— With files from Kyle Duggan and Nick Murray in Ottawa

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press