What began as a routine response to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, ended in tragedy when firefighters were ambushed by a gunman.
Two firefighters were killed and one critically injured on Sunday afternoon after responding to a suspicious fire near a popular recreation area.
Audio recordings captured the chaos as a firefighter urgently radioed for law enforcement, stating, “Everybody’s shot up here.”
Fire crews arrived around 1:30 p.m. and were shot at approximately 30 minutes later. Authorities suspect the fire was deliberately set to lure emergency responders into a deadly trap.
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed the deaths and reported that his officers came under sniper fire during the response.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) also issued a statement, confirming two members were killed and a third remained in surgery. They called the attack a “heinous act of violence.”
Later, a SWAT team found the suspected shooter dead on the mountain, with a firearm nearby.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have joined the investigation to determine whether this was a premeditated ambush using fire as bait.
The incident has shocked local officials and first responders nationwide. Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis described the situation as resembling a battlefield, with wounded firefighters pinned down behind their trucks.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack, calling it a “direct assault” on first responders and asking residents to pray for the victims and their families.