Canadians are stepping up to donate blood in the aftermath of the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright, where four soldiers were killed and 39 injured during a training exercise over the weekend.
Canadian Blood Services said on Oct. 18 that it was monitoring Alberta hospitals’ needs and working with health system partners to ensure patients received blood and blood products.
The agency offered condolences to those affected by the tragedy and thanked Canadians who had asked how to help. It said appointments to donate blood were available across the country and encouraged future donations to maintain the national supply.
The soldiers were among 84 members of C Company of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and other units taking part in training at the military base, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, when strong winds swept a nearby grass fire toward them on Oct. 17. Thirty-nine soldiers were hospitalized, including 19 in critical condition.
Aaron Barlow, community development manager of donor relations at Canadian Blood Services, told The Epoch Times that the agency had received “a tremendous outpouring of support” from across Canada.
Barlow said he had no figures on the overall response but had received “dozens of inquiries” by email from across Western Canada, including groups offering to organize donations or host blood clinics.
Blood and blood products, including plasma and platelets, help treat traumatic injuries and burns, he said. A single patient with traumatic injuries may require up to 50 units of blood during emergency treatment.
“Events like this remind us in the community of why maintaining a strong [and] prepared blood system is so important,” Barlow added. “We plan for unexpected events, and we work every day to maintain a resilient national inventory that can support Canadian patients right across the country.”
Conservative MP Dane Lloyd, who represents Alberta’s Parkland riding, said in a social media post on Oct. 18 that Canadian Blood Services was booking appointments in Edmonton starting Oct. 20.
He also commended those offering to donate, saying O-positive and O-negative blood were “the most versatile and in high demand.”
“Thank you everyone for your prayers and for being there for our men and women in uniform at this difficult time,” Lloyd added.
Those killed in the incident were Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton, Pte. Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Sask., Pte. Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, B.C.
Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, told reporters on Oct. 18 that some of the service members were throwing hand grenades on a range, while others were taking part in attacks on a simulated enemy in groups of 10.
The military knew about the fire roughly a kilometre away but had not considered it a threat, he said.
“I spoke to my commander on the ground. 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 added that the incident is under investigation to determine if it was preventable.
Medical personnel responded from neighbouring areas, including Saskatchewan, with some parachuting into the base. Alberta activated a Code Orange, directing hospitals to mobilize staff and free beds for a mass casualty incident. The alert has since ended.
Premier Danielle Smith said many of the injured suffered serious burns and were receiving treatment in Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer.
“We were very honoured to have been able to assist at a terrible time for the Armed Forces,” she said on Oct. 18. “And we’re very honoured as well now to be giving all of those soldiers who are injured the very best care.”
Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canadians had lined up to donate blood, brought meals to first responders, and opened their homes to grieving families. The affected included soldiers and reservists from across Canada.
“This loss reaches communities in every province,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called the fire one of the “worst tragedies for the [Canadian Armed] Forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
