Military says investigation will determine cause of grass fire on CFB Suffield
CFB SUFFIELD, Alta. — The military says it is investigating whether soldiers who were training sparked a grass fire in southeastern Alberta that torched a ranch, forced an evacuation and burned more than 160 cattle just outside the base.
The fire broke out Monday on Canadian Forces Base Suffield, northwest of Medicine Hat, after troops disposed of an unexploded artillery shell by blowing it up.
Maj. Hugh Atwell, acting commander of the base, said a fire crew was there as a precaution, but the explosion and gusty winds caused flames to spread quickly in the dry grass.
He said there was another fire Tuesday 20 kilometres away on the base that was downwind of the first blaze.