Military says fifth Canadian soldier has died after fire in Wainwright

WAINWRIGHT — A fifth Canadian soldier has died from injuries he sustained in a fire last month at a military base near Wainwright, Alta., the Canadian Armed Forces said Saturday.

The military said in a statement that Pte. William Douglas Dal Bianco died on Friday in Ontario, where he was receiving care after the Oct. 17 fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, southeast of Edmonton.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is thinking about the soldier’s loved ones.

“Private Dal Bianco and his fellow soldiers were training to defend Canada,” Carney said in a social media post.

“With their bright futures still before them, they chose to safeguard ours. That is service.

“Canadians are holding Private Dal Bianco’s loved ones, and all those still grieving in the wake of this terrible tragedy, in our hearts.”

Defence Minister David McGuinty said he extends his deepest condolences to the private’s family and friends for their profound loss.

“I am heartbroken by the loss of a Canadian Armed Forces member following the tragic incident at CFB Wainwright,” he said in a statement.

“No words can ease the pain of this loss, but their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

About 84 soldiers with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry were taking part in attack training when wind pushed flames from a grass fire onto the troops.

Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver; Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton also died in the blaze.

Dozens of others were injured.

The Canadian Armed Forces said Saturday that 24 soldiers remain in various hospitals.

Carney has called the fire one of the worst tragedies for the Armed Forces on Canadian soil during peacetime.

Three investigations are looking into what happened.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2026

The Canadian Press