Two firefighters have been shot and killed and a third seriously injured in what authorities are calling a "total ambush" attack in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after a gunman allegedly set a fire and opened fire on first responders.
The attack unfolded Sunday afternoon on Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking area north of the city, when emergency crews responded to reports of a wildfire. Shortly after their arrival, responders came under sniper fire, prompting a massive law enforcement response involving over 300 officers, helicopters with snipers, and SWAT teams.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris confirmed that the shooter, believed to have acted alone, used a high-powered sporting rifle to launch a sustained assault that lasted several hours.
“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance,” said Norris. “We lost a Coeur d’Alene firefighter and a firefighter from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. A third is fighting for his life but is currently in stable condition.”
The fire, which had grown to 20 acres by Sunday night, complicated response efforts. Smoke and terrain challenges delayed the search for the shooter, whose location was eventually tracked using mobile phone data. The suspect was later found dead near the scene. Authorities have not confirmed whether the gunman was killed by police or died by suicide.
Officials said the attacker may have been moving and hiding weapons in the area during the assault. The suspect’s identity and motive have not been released, and authorities are continuing to search for additional weapons once the fire is fully extinguished.
A shelter-in-place order, affecting local residents for nearly seven hours, has since been lifted.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) confirmed the deaths, with President Edward Kelly calling the ambush a "heinous act of violence." Coeur d’Alene Fire Chief Pat Riley described the incident as "heartbreaking."
The shooting has shaken the small city of about 56,000 people. Long-time resident Linda Tiger, 80, expressed disbelief: “This has never happened here. But it goes to show that no one is safe from this kind of mental sadness.”
Investigations remain ongoing, with officials urging the public to avoid the area and refrain from flying drones that could interfere with emergency operations.