Idaho Shooting: Gunman Ambushes Firefighters on Canfield Mountain, Killing Two

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – A tragic and shocking incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon when a gunman ambushed firefighters responding to a forest fire on Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking area near Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho. According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, two firefighters were killed, and a third was critically wounded.

Sheriff Bob Norris told reporters at a press conference that the attack was a planned ambush. “We believe the suspect intentionally started the fire and waited for the responders. These firefighters had no chance,” he said. The wounded firefighter underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition but “fighting for his life.”

The terrifying situation lasted for several hours. Firefighters and law enforcement officers came under rapid sniper fire from a high-powered rifle shortly after arriving at the fire site. It was initially unclear how many shooters were involved.

The shooter was eventually found dead as a SWAT team, guided by cellphone tracking, removed his body from the fire zone. It is still not confirmed whether the suspect was killed in a gunfire exchange with police or died by suicide. His identity has not yet been released, and the motive remains unknown.

More than 300 officers from local, state, and federal agencies responded to the scene. Two helicopters with snipers were also deployed. Law enforcement officials are expected to find more weapons at the location once the fire is fully extinguished.

Videos from the scene showed large clouds of smoke rising from wooded hillsides as emergency teams prepared for action. Ambulances and fire vehicles were seen rushing in and out of the area. The FBI is assisting with technical and tactical support.

Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack. “This is a direct and cowardly assault on our firefighters,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Please pray for their families during this heartbreaking time.”

Fire crews first received a report about the fire at 1:21 p.m. local time. Less than 45 minutes later, gunfire broke out, turning a routine emergency response into a deadly ambush.

Gun violence remains a major issue in the United States. In 2023 alone, over 17,900 people were murdered with firearms, according to the CDC.