Two firefighters were shot dead and a third critically wounded in an ambush in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after responding to a deliberately set wildfire on Canfield Mountain on Sunday afternoon.
Authorities say the gunman, who acted alone, started a fire in the popular hiking area and opened fire on first responders with a high-powered sporting rifle. The ambush, described by Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris as “a total ambush,” caught firefighters and law enforcement off guard. “These firefighters did not have a chance,” he said during a late-night press briefing.
The fire, reported at approximately 1:21 PM PST, quickly grew to 20 acres. About 40 minutes after crews arrived, reports emerged of gunfire. More than 300 law enforcement personnel including city, county, state, and federal officers responded, supported by helicopters carrying snipers.
A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team later located the suspect’s body near the scene using mobile phone tracking. It remains unclear whether the man died by suicide or was killed by law enforcement. Authorities have not yet disclosed his identity or motive.
The names of the slain firefighters have not been released, but officials confirmed they were members of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. The third firefighter, who was seriously injured, remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) confirmed the deaths, calling it a “heinous act of violence.” Edward Kelly, IAFF president, expressed deep sorrow over the incident on social media.
The terrifying incident shook the Coeur d’Alene community, a city of about 56,000 people near the Washington border. Residents like 80-year-old Linda Tiger expressed disbelief, saying, “This has never happened here… no one is safe from this kind of mental sadness.”
Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged the public to avoid the area. Drones have been banned from flying over the site due to ongoing operations and the still-active wildfire.
