Firefighters shot dead in US; gunman still active
Two firefighters were killed when they were shot at while responding to a fire in northern Idaho, the Kootenai County Sheriff said on Sunday (local time), with law enforcement officers still taking sniper fire and hunting for the killer.
It was not immediately clear if there was one gunman or more, Sheriff Bob Norris told a press conference, urging the public to stay clear of the area.
"We are prepared to neutralise this suspect who is currently actively shooting at public safety personnel," Norris said, adding that some civilians may have been caught up in the incident.
The attack is unfolding in the Canfield Mountain nature area that is popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, a city of 57,000 people about 420km east of Seattle in Washington state.
The sheriff said the shooter or shooters were using high-powered sporting rifles to shoot rapidly at first responders, and that the perpetrators "are not, at this time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender."
Norris said the perpetrators were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings."
"If these individuals are not neutralised quickly, this is going to be likely a multi-day operation," Norris said.
Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been briefed on the Idaho shooting, ABC News reported.
Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday (local time), Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Idaho Governor Brad Little said on X. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."
Little did not give further details on any casualties or how the incident unfolded.
"As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs," Little added.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's Constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms."
Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
Man found dead after two firefighters killed in US ambush
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Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Firefighters shot dead in US; Swat team finds body
Two firefighters were shot dead while responding to a fire in northern Idaho and the body of a man was later found with a gun nearby, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said, as it lifted a shelter-in-place order. Sheriff Bob Norris had earlier said law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, about 420km east of Seattle. "This evening, members of the Swat team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken." The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved. They were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings," Norris added. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been briefed on the Idaho shooting, ABC News reported. Video footage from the scene had earlier showed smoke billowing from heavily wooded hillsides and armed responders preparing, while several ambulances and emergency vehicles were seen entering a nearby hospital. "FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support," FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. "It remains an active, and very dangerous scene." Firefighters received the first call of a fire about 1:21pm on Sunday (local time), Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Idaho Governor Brad Little said on X. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's Constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms." Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Firefighters shot dead in US
Two firefighters were killed when they were shot at while responding to a fire in northern Idaho, the Kootenai County Sheriff said on Sunday (local time), with law enforcement officers still taking sniper fire and hunting for the killer. It was not immediately clear if there was one gunman or more, Sheriff Bob Norris told a press conference, urging the public to stay clear of the area. "We are prepared to neutralise this suspect who is currently actively shooting at public safety personnel," Norris said, adding that some civilians may have been caught up in the incident. The attack is unfolding in the Canfield Mountain nature area that is popular with hikers near Coeur d'Alene, a city of 57,000 people about 420km east of Seattle in Washington state. The sheriff said the shooter or shooters were using high-powered sporting rifles to shoot rapidly at first responders, and that the perpetrators "are not, at this time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender." Norris said the perpetrators were in a spot "with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings." "If these individuals are not neutralised quickly, this is going to be likely a multi-day operation," Norris said. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been briefed on the Idaho shooting, ABC News reported. Firefighters received the first call of a fire around 1:21pm on Sunday (local time), Norris said, and about 40 minutes later, reports emerged that they were being shot at. "This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Idaho Governor Brad Little said on X. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more." Little did not give further details on any casualties or how the incident unfolded. "As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs," Little added. Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country's Constitution protects the rights of Americans to "keep and bear arms." Deaths related to gun violence are common - 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
