A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday, June 29 and then began shooting at first responders in a mountain community in Idaho, United States, killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.
Authorities said late Sunday that the shooter was found dead and is believed to have acted alone. “Based on preliminary information we believe that was the only shooter,” Kootenai County Sheriff Richard Norris told a news conference, adding “there is no threat to the community at this time.”
A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used cell phone data to “hone in” on a wooded area where they found the suspect’s body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Norris said.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found. “We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,” Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Sheriff’s officials said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene around 1:30 pm, and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Investigators said the gunman acted alone. “We believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,” Norris said.
Three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, said hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. Two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries, Anderson said. The wounded firefighter was “fighting for his life” after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.
Gov. Brad Little said “multiple” firefighting personnel were attacked. “This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”
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Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
Just as the evening press conference was expected to begin, the bodies of the slain firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane, Washington, escorted by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles. Firefighters and others saluted as the vehicles passed by.
