At Least 2 People Killed After Firefighters Were Ambushed While Responding to Blaze That May Have Been Intentionally Set

At least two people were killed after a shooter opened fire on firefighters responding to a wildfire in Idaho in a situation that remains active.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, firefighters with the county’s fire and rescue service were responding to a brush fire at Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene — located about 30 miles from Spokane, Wash. — at around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 29.

Around half an hour later, a shooter — or possibly multiple gunmen — using “modern-day sporting rifles” opened fire, Sheriff Robert Norris said at a news conference later in the afternoon, per East Idaho News.

Norris said that investigators are still “actively taking sniper fire” as of 5:00 p.m. local time, and that the gunman or gunmen show “no sign of wanting to surrender.” Authorities have not yet shared a motive for the shooting, and the wildfire is still burning.

“We don’t know if there’s one, two, three or four [shooters],” Norris said during the press conference, per KXLY, adding that officers on the scene have reported seeing bullets coming from multiple directions.

“We will neutralize this threat,” Norris added.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News that officials are investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set to lure first responders to the scene.

Edward A. Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, shared in a post on X that two firefighters were killed by the sniper and a third “remains in surgery.” He called the ambush a “heinous act of violence.”

An unknown number of people are injured, and hikers and local residents are trapped on the mountain as the shooting continues, Norris said.

“We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain. We might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain, so this is a very, very fresh situation,” Norris said.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that FBI agents were on the way to provide “tactical and operational support” to local authorities.

During the press conference, Norris added that this could likely become a “multi-day operation.”

“It’s going to be a tough next couple hours … I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize because they are not, at this point in time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender,” he told reporters.

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Several politicians have spoken out to condemn the shooting, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who wrote on social media: “This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.”

“I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more,” he continued. “Teresa and I are heartbroken. As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs.”

The fire and shooting have broken out in the Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a 24-acre public park on the east side of Coeur d’Alene that features several hiking trails and heavy brush.

The sheriff’s office has announced that the area south of Hayden Lake Road and east of 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene has been issued a shelter-in-place warning.

This is a developing story.