Gunman Sets Wildfire, Ambushes First Responders in Idaho, Killing Two Firefighters
COEUR D’ALENE — Two firefighters were fatally shot dead and a third wounded , remains hospitalized after a gunman opened fire on emergency crews responding to a blaze on Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho. Authorities confirmed the attack was a planned ambush.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said Sunday that the gunman deliberately ignited the wildfire before targeting first responders with a high-powered rifle as they arrived to fight the fire. The ambush began around 1:20 p.m. local time and continued for hours.
“This was a total ambush,” Norris stated during a late-night press briefing. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
The fallen include one firefighter from Coeur d’Alene and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. A third firefighter is in stable condition and receiving treatment.
The blaze, which spread to at least 20 acres, drew first responders into the area before reports of gunfire surfaced approximately 40 minutes later. Law enforcement, including city, state, and federal agencies, quickly converged on the mountain, with over 300 officers deployed. Two helicopters carrying snipers were also dispatched.
Authorities said the shooter used a semi-automatic rifle to fire repeatedly, prompting a prolonged exchange as crews tried to locate the attacker. Mobile phone tracking eventually led law enforcement to a body believed to be the suspect’s. The exact cause of his death remains unclear.
“We don’t know if the suspect took his own life or was shot by an officer,” Norris said, adding that investigators had to remove the body quickly due to the advancing fire.
Officers have not released the name of the deceased suspect or victims, citing the need to notify next of kin. The motive for the attack has not been established.
Initial reports raised the possibility of multiple shooters. However, Sheriff Norris said Monday that a preliminary investigation indicated only one assailant. “He may have been on the move and stashed weapons in different locations,” he said.
As of Monday morning, the fire was still burning, complicating the recovery of additional evidence. Officials warned that more firearms might be found once conditions allow for a full search of the site.
A citywide shelter-in-place alert, issued after the shooting began, was lifted seven hours later. The Coeur d’Alene community, with a population of about 56,000, remains shaken.
“This has never happened here,” said 80-year-old resident Linda Tiger. “It goes to show that no one is safe from this kind of mental sadness.”
Firefighters’ union president Edward Kelly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act of violence” against public servants. Coeur d’Alene Fire Chief Pat Riley said he was “heartbroken.”
The deadly ambush comes as Idaho continues to face dry, fire-prone conditions heading into peak summer months. Investigators have asked residents to avoid the area and refrain from flying drones, which could interfere with response operations.
The FBI and state officials are expected to release further updates once the scene is fully secured and the fire contained.
