Two firefighters were killed and a third was seriously injured when a gunman ambushed emergency crews responding to a wildfire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, according to officials and the firefighters’ union. The suspect was found dead after an hours-long search, with a firearm nearby. [Source 5843]
Firefighters were dispatched to a report of a wildfire at 1:21 p.m., Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. Gunfire began about 30 minutes after crews reached the mountain. The attack prevented responders from safely reaching casualties and complicated efforts to contain the fire. [Source 5843]
At a briefing during the unfolding emergency, Norris said responders were coming under rapid fire and that the shooter appeared to be using a high-powered rifle. Reports that shots were coming from different locations initially added uncertainty about the number and position of those responsible. Authorities mobilized hundreds of law enforcement personnel while the search continued. [Source 5843]
Residents in the surrounding area were instructed to shelter in place as officers looked for the attacker. Federal resources were also sent to the scene, with FBI personnel providing tactical and operational assistance, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. [Source 5843]
The International Association of Fire Fighters reported that three firefighters had been shot. The union said two died and the third underwent surgery. The available account did not identify the victims or provide further information about the injured firefighter’s condition. [Source 5843]
At approximately 7:45 p.m., authorities announced that a suspect had been located dead on the mountain and that a gun was found nearby. The shelter-in-place order was subsequently lifted, although officials warned that the wildfire remained active. People living nearby were told to remain prepared in case additional protective measures became necessary. [Source 5843]
Officials said the gunman had set the wildfire before attacking the first responders, but the supplied account did not describe the evidence supporting that assessment. It also did not establish a motive or explain how the suspect died. No confirmed identity for the gunman was included in the initial reporting. [Source 5843]
Idaho Governor Brad Little characterized the shooting as a direct attack on first responders and asked residents to support the firefighters and their families. The incident brought together local, state and federal authorities as crews faced the combined dangers of an armed assailant and an uncontrolled fire in mountainous terrain. [Source 5843]
The confirmed toll in the supplied evidence was two firefighters killed and one firefighter seriously wounded, in addition to the dead suspect. Early uncertainty about casualties and the possibility of multiple firing positions reflected information released while the emergency response was still underway; no additional injuries were verified in the available source. [Source 5843]
