Four soldiers killed in grass fire at Canadian military base

A fast-moving grass fire killed four Canadian soldiers during a training exercise in Alberta on Saturday. The fire broke out at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright while troops were training with munitions and grenades. Strong winds, gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour, pushed the flames across the training area very quickly. Some witnesses said the fire reached them within one minute. At least 39 people were taken to hospital, and 19 of them were in critical condition. The fire burned for several hours before crews brought it under control. Officials have described it as one of the worst peacetime disasters for the Canadian military on home soil in recent memory. Questions are now being raised about safety rules for training in conditions where fire can spread so fast.