Idaho Firefighters Shot in 'Heinous' Ambush by Active Shooter

Yahoo

2 days ago

A major tragedy is unfolding in Idaho.
Gov. Brad Little confirmed that multiple firefighters were attacked. At least two people have died, according to ABC 7.
"Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. 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. Teresa and I are heartbroken," Little wrote on Facebook.
"As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs," Little wrote.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said in a news conference that authorities received reports of a fire on Canfield Mountain. At 2 p.m., it was reported that firefighters were "receiving shots fired." He said that there is an "unknown amount of casualties" and civilians are still "coming off that mountain" and might be stuck or in shock.
He added, "We're taking rapid fire."
Norris said there is "absolutely" an active threat.
However, Fox News later reported that a deceased man was discovered with a firearm; it was not immediately clear whether this was the suspect, however.
"We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak," Norris said in the news conference. "This is an active situation. We are prepared to neutralize this suspect as quickly as possible." Norris said it's believed the two people confirmed dead are firefighters.
"We don't know how many casualties there are," he said, and it's not even clear how many suspects there are. "We don't know if there are one, two, three or four," he said of the number of suspects.
He said authorities don't know how many suspects there are.
The firefighters were shot "while responding to a brush fire in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho," CNN reported on June 29, citing Northern Lakes Fire Protection Chief Pat Riley.
North Idaho News reported that officers may also have been shot, but Norris said no law enforcement officers were shot.
"Additional victims may still be on the hillside. Suspect or suspects remain at large — armed and dangerous," that site reported.
North Idaho News added, "There has been NO confirmation this is in any way connected to Travis Decker as is being reported by Washington news sites." He is the man who has been on the run after being accused of murdering his three daughters.
The tragedy in Idaho was described as an "active shooter situation."
Police and emergency crews "are responding to an active shooter situation, where multiple firefighters were reportedly shot," wrote KHQ.
Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News that the firefighters were "ambushed" on Canfield Mountain when they responded to the fire. The suspect fired from the woods, according to ABC. The suspect was not yet named, the motive is not clear, and it's not clear how many people were injured or to what degree.
Law enforcement "is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene," ABC reported.
Kootenai County Emergency Management wrote on Facebook on June 29 that a shelter in place was expanded at 4:58 p.m. Idaho time, and encompasses "everything south of Hayden Lake Rd, and east of 15th St in CDA."
"If you are in the area of Canfield Mountain Trailhead / Nettleton Gulch Rd. area in CDA, SHELTER IN PLACE. If you are not, AVOID THE AREA due to Law Enforcement activity," the agency wrote previously.Idaho Firefighters Shot in 'Heinous' Ambush by Active Shooter first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 29, 2025