Idaho firefighter shooting : A man armed with a rifle ignited a fire and opened fire on first responders in a mountain town in Idaho, USA, killing two firefighters and injuring another during a prolonged shooting that lasted several hours.
Authorities have since lifted the shelter-in-place order after a tactical team used mobile phone data to locate the suspect in a wooded area. His body was found with a firearm nearby as the wildfire closed in, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.
Officials have not disclosed the suspect’s identity or specified the type of firearm recovered.
Gunman Kills Two Firefighters and Injures One in Idaho Wildfire Ambush
Investigators confirmed that the gunman acted alone.
We believe he was the sole shooter on that mountain at the time,” said Sheriff Bob Norris.
According to hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson, three victims were transported to Kootenai Health. Two were declared dead on arrival, while the third was receiving treatment for injuries.
Sheriff Norris stated the injured firefighter underwent surgery and was in stable condition but “fighting for his life.
The scene was described as chaotic, with firefighters arriving to battle the brush fire only to come under intense gunfire.
First responders urgently called for backup over their radios, with one dispatch reporting, Everybody’s shot up here… send law enforcement now.
Authorities Investigate Lone Shooter Behind Deadly Attack in Coeur d’Alene as Community Mourns
Governor Brad Little confirmed that “multiple” firefighting personnel were targeted in the attack.
This was a brutal and deliberate assault on our courageous firefighters,” he stated on X.
I urge all Idahoans to keep them and their families in their prayers as we await further details.
Sheriff Bob Norris said the attacker appeared to be concealed in the rugged landscape, using a high-powered rifle to ambush responders. He confirmed that he had authorized deputies to return fire.
As the scheduled evening press briefing was about to begin, the bodies of the two fallen firefighters arrived in Spokane, Washington, accompanied by a solemn procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles. Firefighters and community members lined the route, offering salutes as the convoy passed.
The Kootenai County Emergency Management Office issued an alert advising the public to stay clear of the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road area, approximately six kilometers north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.
Although the shelter-in-place order has since been lifted, the sheriff’s office urged residents to remain vigilant as the wildfire continued to burn.
The FBI deployed technical experts and tactical units to support the investigation, according to Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
In a statement, the Idaho House Republican Leadership expressed shock and grief: “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene and deeply disturbed by this brutal attack on our first responders. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the injured, their families, and their fellow firefighters.
Coeur d’Alene, a city of 55,000 near the Washington border, sits adjacent to Canfield Mountain — a popular outdoor area known for its tree-covered hills, dense brush, and network of hiking and biking trails leading into a national forest.
Fire is always a major concern in the area, said Bruce Deming, whose property borders the trail network.
On Sunday afternoon, when he spotted smoke rising from the ridge, he was puzzled by the absence of firefighting helicopters.
It wasn’t until a friend texted him about the ongoing shooting that the reason became clear: “They’re worried about being fired upon,” he said.
As deputies established posts nearby, Deming directed them to a trail near his backyard that leads straight to the fire’s location.
I just don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night wondering if someone’s lurking around my property,” he added.
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