Residents of Wainwright, Alta., came together along the town’s main highway on Wednesday morning to honor the soldiers affected by the tragic incident over the weekend. A convoy of buses transporting some of the soldiers involved in the training exercise that turned catastrophic at CFB Wainwright was met with solemn silence as it passed by, escorted by RCMP vehicles with flashing lights.
Among the onlookers were individuals in Armed Forces attire, while others displayed signs of support and waved Canadian flags. The community had been encouraged by town officials to gather and show solidarity with the departing soldiers.
The military community, deeply shaken by the sudden turn of events when flames from a nearby grass fire unexpectedly swept towards 84 members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, received an outpouring of support from near and far.
Dolly Brooks, a long-time resident, expressed her commitment to supporting the troops and acknowledged the global solidarity being extended to their town. She emphasized standing by the soldiers and their families, as well as expressing gratitude to the first responders who acted during the crisis.
Military leaders confirmed that despite being aware of the distant fire, the unexpected winds swiftly redirected the flames towards the soldiers during their training exercise on the sprawling base southeast of Edmonton, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives and the injury of many others.
As the wounded soldiers continue their battle for recovery, families anxiously await updates on their conditions. Sean Haitt, a 24-year-old corporal with severe burns, remains one of the critically injured soldiers hospitalized in Edmonton. His sister, Teresa Hiatt, shared details of his condition and the challenges ahead in his treatment and recovery process.
The road to recovery for the injured soldiers is predicted to be lengthy and arduous, with the hope of stabilization and progress in their conditions being the primary focus for their families and medical teams.
