SASKATCHEWAN, Canada — A firefighting soldier who got lost Monday while fighting a wildfire was found uninjured after an extensive search. His pride, however, took a hit.
CBC.ca reported that the soldier, one of 600 deployed in the forest fire zone, had walked into the forest to relieve himself in privacy and got lost.
“I am happy to report, he is uninjured except for his pride, and many lessons, a number of lessons to be learned about this,” Brigadier General Wayne Eyre said.
When others noticed he was missing around 2 p.m., a massive search began, involving soldiers, the Wildfire Management Centre, the RCMP, Canadian Rangers and other agencies, according to the report.
The search shut down firefighting in the area yesterday afternoon.
Eyre acknowledged that there should have been a buddy system in place, and the soldier, described as experienced, should have stayed in one spot.
He was found around 8:30 p.m.
The Canadian Forces will be reviewing its protocols on the fire line, including using a buddy system, Eyre said.