The Canadian Army’s restructured command system passed its first real-world test during the response to the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright, a senior Army officer told defence industry representatives on Tuesday.
Maj.-Gen. Stéphane Masson said early lessons show the new structure was effective and spared the Army time and confusion. He spoke remotely from Ottawa at the London, Ont-based Best Defence conference. Masson had planned to attend in person but said he was asked to stay at headquarters because of the situation.
The fire killed four soldiers and injured 39 others, 19 of them critically, on Oct. 17. It swept through an outdoor training exercise while soldiers practised combat attacks with live ammunition.
New command, first test
The Army formally adopted its new structure on Sept. 10. It replaced four regional divisions with three purpose-built ones: 1st Canadian Division as the front-line combat force, 2nd Canadian Division for homeland defence, and a Support Division serving as the institutional backbone.
Masson said the Wainwright response was the first time the new command-and-control structure had operated in real conditions. “We are learning that it was absolutely effective,” he said. He said the structure saved hours and a significant amount of confusion.
The commander who led the public response belongs to the new structure. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland is the inaugural commander of the revitalized 1st Canadian Division. He briefed reporters in Edmonton the day after the fire.
Questions remain
Masson’s assessment comes as investigators work to establish why soldiers were in the fire’s path. Rutland said military officials knew about the fire for hours but believed it was contained, until winds shifted suddenly and sent the flames toward the soldiers. He said a commander at the scene described soldiers going from seeing no fire to having flames on them in under a minute.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told Parliament on Monday that 50 investigators are on the ground. The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is leading the probe with RCMP support. Investigators will examine why live-fire training went ahead on a day when Environment Canada had forecast high winds, the Globe and Mail reported.
Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, has committed to releasing the investigation’s findings publicly. The Canadian Forces fire marshal is conducting a separate review. Rutland said a formal board of inquiry typically follows such incidents and cautioned that answers will take time.
Masson did not address the fire’s cause or the decision to continue training. Technical problems with the remote connection cut his presentation short, and the host directed questions to Army staff at the event.
Soldiers and support
Masson opened his remarks by acknowledging the losses. He thanked the defence industry for its condolences and support, and said teammates of those killed and injured had already returned to training.
“Serving Canada comes with risk, and serving Canada sometimes requires sacrifices,” he said.
The military identified those killed as Sgt. Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark of 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. The battalion was preparing for rapid deployment to global crises and to reinforce Canadian troops in Latvia next spring.
