Troops from the 3rd Canadian Division's Immediate Response Unit (west) help to extinguish a wildfire hotspot near Montreal Lake, Saskatchewan in a photo released by the Canadian Forces July 9, 2015.HANDOUT/Reuters
Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre says the soldier was heeding Mother Nature's call when he headed in the wrong direction on the fire lines near La Ronge.
"Mid-afternoon a soldier goes into the woods to relieve himself, gets turned around and starts walking away. This happens," Eyre said.
A search began just minutes later.
"We immediately started a search and, as the area in question became larger and larger, we brought in more resources and ... as we cordoned off the area ... we were able to find the soldier."
The Edmonton-based military member was found safe six hours later.
Eyre says the only thing that was hurt was the soldier's pride.