Trevor Flegel joined the army in 2024 to challenge himself and see what life looked like beyond Kitimat, B.C.
Two years later, the 26-year-old private is in an Edmonton intensive care unit with burns covering about half his body.
Flegel was one of 39 soldiers hurt when fire tore through a training area at CFB Wainwright on Oct. 17. Four soldiers died. Twelve days on, his family says he’s still in the ICU and facing a long recovery.
Our condolences go out to the families of the four soldiers who were killed, and our thoughts are with Flegel and every soldier still in hospital.
“Trevor approaches life on his own terms”
Flegel’s family says he enlisted “to challenge himself physically and mentally, discover what he was capable of, and experience life beyond his small hometown of Kitimat, BC.”
They describe him as quiet, independent, strong-willed and determined.
“Trevor approaches life on his own terms,” they said in a statement. “His time in the military challenged him in ways he’d never experienced before, helped him grow as a person, while creating lifelong friendships with his military brothers.”
Away from the army, he rides dirt bikes and spends as much time outdoors as he can.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the love and support our family has received from our friends, community and people across Canada,” the family said. “We’re also deeply thankful for the incredible medical team caring for Trevor and the compassion they’ve shown our family.”
The fundraiser has passed $75,000
A fundraiser, “Standing with Trevor Flegel – CFB Wainwright Recovery Fund,” was set up to cover what comes next: travel to Edmonton, accommodation, time away from work and the months of recovery ahead. It’s run independently of the Canadian Armed Forces, with the money managed by a member of Flegel’s family.
As of Thursday night, it had raised $75,803 of a $90,000 goal from 441 donations. The largest single gift was $3,000.
Support Trevor Flegel’s recovery through the family fundraiser
What burns like these mean
Premier Danielle Smith gave a sense of what the injured soldiers are facing when she updated the public last week.
“Some of the burns are 30 per cent to 80 per cent of their entire body,” she said. Changing the dressings on a single patient, she said, “can take up to two hours.”
Alberta’s hospitals needed help. Ontario sent 19 burn nurses and five operating-room nurses to work alongside Alberta staff. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said 27 health-care workers in all, including surgeons, were deployed.
“In times of crisis, Canadians pull together and have each other’s backs,” Ford said.
What happened on Oct. 17
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, were training at Wainwright as part of Exercise Apollo Shooter.
Just before 4 p.m., a fire started on the range. High winds pushed it through the base’s fire guard and into the unit’s administrative area, where soldiers were set up. Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland of the 1st Canadian Division has said the troops were preparing for a pairs range, where two soldiers take turns covering and firing.
Four soldiers, all serving with 3 PPCLI, were killed:
Sgt. Morgan Wong, 26, of Edmonton, a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Pte. Shaun Farrell, 23, of Prince Albert, Sask.
Pte. Aidan Goulding, 23, of North Vancouver, B.C.
Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, of Langley, B.C.
Read more: Hayden Lykkemark, 19, Remembered After Deadly CFB Wainwright Fire in Alberta
Where the injured stand
The most recent figures, given by Rutland on Oct. 22:
27 soldiers still in hospital, at several facilities
13 in critical condition
12 released
“We are heartened that 12 soldiers are no longer hospitalized,” Rutland said.
Those numbers are a week old. The military hasn’t released a newer count, and it isn’t giving updates on individual soldiers. Flegel’s family confirmed on Oct. 28 that he was still in the ICU.
The question nobody has answered yet
Why did training go ahead in high winds?
Officials have declined to say, pointing to the military police investigation. Rutland has said commanders weigh several factors when deciding whether training can proceed. What’s known is that firefighters couldn’t enter the area once the fire started, because it sits inside a permanent danger zone, and that the wind drove the fire faster than anyone expected.
Officials say no gas infrastructure was damaged and there was no explosion. The cause hasn’t been determined.
Three investigations are running:
Military police: About 30 investigators, working independently of the chain of command, are looking at whether any criminal or service offence occurred. Officials stress that doesn’t mean one did.
A board of inquiry: Still being set up. It will look at systemic issues and make recommendations, with no deadline.
Alberta’s Chief Medical Examiner: Investigating the four deaths.
Rutland first said the investigation would take at least a month. He has since said it could take longer.
Help for the families
Beyond individual fundraisers, Support Our Troops has set up a CFB Wainwright Support Fund for military families affected by the fire. It’s meant to cover urgent costs that existing benefits don’t, such as travel, accommodation and time away from work.
The Calgary Flames Foundation gave $100,000 to the fund this week and pledged part of a game-night 50/50. CIBC and BMO have also donated.
In Wainwright, residents lined the highway with “Wainwright stands with you” signs as soldiers passed last week, and people across the country have lined up to give blood.
For Flegel’s family, the focus is one hospital room in Edmonton and the long stretch ahead.
Sources
1st Canadian Division briefing, Maj.-Gen. Wade Rutland, Oct. 22, 2026
Premier Danielle Smith, public update, Oct. 21, 2026
GoFundMe: Standing with Trevor Flegel – CFB Wainwright Recovery Fund
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