Two firefighters were killed and another was seriously injured after being ambushed by a gunman Sunday afternoon, according to local authorities.
Shots Fired at Firefighters Battling Idaho Wildfire
Multiple firefighters came under fire from an unidentified gunman while responding to a wildfire near a popular outdoor area in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sunday afternoon.
According to audio obtained by CNN, one of the firefighters made a desperate radio call: “We need law enforcement up here immediately.”
The shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m., shortly after crews arrived to contain a small brush fire. Roughly 30 minutes into their efforts, gunfire erupted from the nearby woods suggesting the attacker may have been lying in ambush.
“This fire was clearly set on purpose to lure us in,” said one firefighter at the scene.
“There’s an active shooter get law enforcement here now,” he added urgently.
“Everyone here has been shot.”
Two Fatalities Confirmed
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed during a press briefing that two people believed to be firefighting personnel were killed in the attack, according to ABC7.
The International Association of Fire Fighters posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that firefighters were deliberately targeted while responding to the blaze in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
The post read: “While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a brutal act of violence.”
It continued, “Two of our brothers were taken by sniper fire. A third remains in surgery. Please hold them, their loved ones, and the responding officers in your thoughts and prayers.”
In a press conference Sunday evening, Sheriff Norris described the extreme threat to his team.
“We are under active sniper fire,” he said, underlining the danger.
“This situation is unfolding rapidly,” Norris added.
Suspect Discovered Dead
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a SWAT team later found a deceased man on the mountain, with a firearm nearby. Authorities believe he is the suspect responsible for the deadly shooting.
Investigators are exploring the disturbing possibility that the blaze was deliberately set as a trap to lure emergency responders into danger.
“We’re examining whether the fire was used to draw first responders to the scene,” Lt. Jeff Howard of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News.
Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis called the incident a “worst-case scenario” in remarks to CNN, noting that the radio calls from the scene revealed the urgency and threat firefighters were facing.
“Like a War Zone”
“You really feel for those firefighters making that call,” Davis said. “People were bleeding out on the ground, trapped behind their fire truck. It was an extremely disturbing situation almost like a war zone.”
The FBI has now joined the investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security has also been briefed, according to a DHS official speaking to ABC News.
Although the shelter-in-place order for the Canfield Mountain Trailhead area has been lifted, officials continue to urge residents to stay cautious due to the ongoing wildfire threat.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the violence, calling it “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.” Posting on X, he said, “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. I urge all Idahoans to pray for them and their loved ones as we await more information.”
