Military officials say the grass fire broke out Saturday on a grenade range at the base southeast of Edmonton.

The fire was being monitored when, in the afternoon, a strong wind quickly shot flames over to an area where the soldiers were in attack training.

The base's training-range standing orders document cautions that units firing between August and October should plan early morning shoots when fire risk is lower.

The document says the fire-hazard risk is "normally low enough to permit the firing of most ammunition natures" before about 10 a.m.

Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, told reporters in Edmonton on Thursday that it's a guideline.

Specific factors about conditions that day -- including weather, dryness and the type of munitions involved -- are considered by officials on the ground, he said.

He added that the decision to hold training later in the day would be part of looking into what happened. Three investigations are taking place -- two led by the military and one civilian.

Training resumed on the base, but Rutland emphasized that soldiers are conducting a completely different type of training. He said the military knows it must review its safety regulations.

Officials said 27 injured soldiers remain in various hospitals, with 13 in critical condition. Twelve others have since been released.

Those who died have been identified as: Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.; Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver; and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.; and Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canada's top soldier, told the media briefing that if investigators find that new safety measures are needed, the Armed Forces will implement them immediately.

Carignan said she's heartbroken by the tragedy and that it has had a devastating effect on family members of those killed and injured, as well as the wider military community.

Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan, head of the military police, said 30 police are on the ground investigating, but that the information they can confirm is limited.

"The investigation has confirmed that the fire originated as a result of a training event that was taking place on the anti-grenade launcher range," she said.

"Every other aspect of what happened, from the time that fire originated on that range to what we have today dealing with the tragic accident on a different range in that area, is still under investigation."

The officials said the fire spread at a rapid pace, bypassing fireguards and flying toward what's called a pair's range -- where two soldiers work as a team to practise live-fire exercises. It then burned beyond the base.

Previously, officials had said the fire had leapt to the section attack range.

There's no indication that natural gas infrastructure was a factor in the fire, Hanrahan added.

This report by was first published Oct. 22, 2026.

-- With files from Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Kyle Duggan in Ottawa