Gunman started blaze before shooting two firefighters dead in Idaho
The firefighters were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)
Officials did not release his name.
'We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,' Norris said at a Sunday night news conference.
'These firefighters did not have a chance.'
Sheriff's officials said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1.30pm (8.30pm BST) on Sunday, and gunshots were reported about a half hour later.
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.
As this…
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) June 29, 2025
Investigators said the gunman acted alone.
Three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, said hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. Two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries. The wounded firefighter was 'fighting for his life' after surgery and was in stable condition, Mr Norris said.
Mr Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
Just as the evening press conference was expected to begin, the bodies of the firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane, Washington, escorted by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles.
A stay-in-place order was briefly in force (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)
Firefighters and others saluted as the vehicles passed by.
The Idaho House Republican Leadership said in a statement: 'We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d'Alene, and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families and their colleagues.'
Coeur d'Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington. Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the city's outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and criss-crossed with trails that lead into a national forest.
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