By Jack Farrell and Fakiha Baig Canada’s military says a grass fire that killed four soldiers and sent scores more to hospital with bad burns was known well beforehand but not considered a threat. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, commander of 1st Canadian Division, says the grass fire was a kilometre away and considered sufficiently under control that training exercises were allowed to continue Saturday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in central Alberta. However, he said conditions — including a violent, sudden windstorm — sent those flames racing over the Prairie landscape at lightning speed, landing right on top of the soldiers. “This was a very uncommon occurrence,” Rutland told a news conference Sunday. “I spoke to my commander on the ground. He said within 30 seconds to a minute they…
Register
