They named the four soldiers killed at CFB Wainwright. Nineteen of the injured are in critical condition.

Four soldiers identified

The Canadian Armed Forces on Sunday identified the four members killed in the October 17 fire at CFB Wainwright, after their families were notified, the Department of National Defence said in an official statement.

They are Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton, a reservist with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment who was training with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry; and Privates Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, British Columbia, all members of the Edmonton-based 3rd Battalion.

In addition to those who lost their lives, 39 Canadian Armed Forces members sustained injuries, National Defence confirmed.

19 in critical condition

At a Sunday afternoon briefing in Edmonton, Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division, said a known grass fire had been burning near the training area for hours and was believed contained enough for training to continue. Then the wind shifted.

The fire was about a kilometre away from the soldiers when the wind changed, Rutland said, and flames reached the troops in roughly 30 to 60 seconds — "not normal" for a fire to move that fast. The blaze crossed established firebreaks and spread beyond the base perimeter before it was brought under control.

About 84 soldiers from Charlie Company were conducting two live-training activities — one at a grenade range and another simulating an attack — when the fire overtook them in the section-attack range area. Training involving the affected battalion was suspended Sunday.

Alberta officials said 39 people received medical care: 19 in critical condition, eight stable, and 12 ambulatory patients treated for less serious injuries, according to Dr. Sayeh Zielke, chief executive of Acute Care Alberta. Premier Danielle Smith said some of the injured have severe burns and may need weeks or months of specialized care. Patients were transferred to hospitals in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer, and all were accounted for, officials said.

Cause still unknown

The ignition source has not been established, Rutland said. He said the military does not believe the fire was caused by oil and gas infrastructure or outside interference, and the Alberta Energy Regulator said Sunday it had received no reports of an incident involving oil or gas infrastructure at the base. National Defence has said there is no indication of terrorist activity.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is working with military police and RCMP investigators, and a military fire marshal team was sent to the site. Rutland said a formal board of inquiry will follow and the investigation is expected to take time.

The fire also disrupted Alberta's referendum vote: the advance-voting location at the Wainwright Communiplex was closed Saturday, and Elections Alberta directed voters to check its official information before Monday's vote.

What it means

The names and the injury breakdown turn Saturday's toll into a reckoning for the Canadian Armed Forces. A known grass fire, training judged safe to continue, and a wind shift that covered a kilometre in less than a minute — those are the facts investigators will now have to answer for. For a country one day out from a referendum vote that has already been rattled by national-unity debate, the base fire has become a national tragedy, with flags at half-mast on federal buildings and condolences from the prime minister, the defence minister and the chief of the defence staff.