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Edmonton Journal
30-06-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Gunman started Idaho blaze and then fatally shot 2 firefighters in ambush attack: officials
Article content A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain community, killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said. A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used cellphone data to 'hone in' on a wooded area where they found the suspect's body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. Article content Article content Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found. '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 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Investigators said the gunman acted alone. 'We believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,' Norris said. 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, Anderson said. The wounded firefighter was 'fighting for his life' after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said. Article content The scene was sheer pandemonium as the brush fire burned and firefighters rushed to the scene only to come under heavy fire. First responders made urgent calls for help on their radios: 'Everybody's shot up here … send law enforcement now,' according to one dispatch. Gov. Brad Little said 'multiple' firefighting personnel were attacked. 'This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,' Little said on X. 'I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.' 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 slain firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane, Washington, escorted by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles. Firefighters and others saluted as the vehicles passed by. Article content An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d'Alene. Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff's office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning. The FBI responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. 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 crisscrossed with trails that lead into a national forest. Latest National Stories
Yomiuri Shimbun
30-06-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2 Killed in Sniper Ambush as Idaho Firefighters Come under Siege from Rifle Fire
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two firefighters were killed Sunday when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, as crews endured a barrage of gunfire over several hours that the governor called a 'heinous' assault. No arrests were announced. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Sheriff Bob Norris said officials didn't know if anyone else was shot. 'We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are,' Norris told reporters at a 4:30 p.m. news conference. 'We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.' People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it 'would be safe to assume' that others were still up there. Gov. Brad Little said 'multiple' firefighters were attacked. 'This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,' Little said on the social platform X. 'I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.' 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. 'I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize, because they're not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender,' the sheriff said. An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d'Alene. The fire was still active, Norris said. 'It's going to keep burning,' he said. 'Can't put any resources on it right now.' The FBI has responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. 'It remains an active, and very dangerous scene,' he wrote in a post on X. 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 outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails.
West Australian
30-06-2025
- West Australian
Idaho wildfire ambush: Two firefighters shot dead after being ‘lured' to ‘deliberate' blaze in Coeur D' Alene
Two firefighters have been killed, and local authorities are reporting potential additional casualties after an unknown number of gunmen opened fire on emergency crews arriving to battle a bushfire in the US state of Idaho. The local sheriff's department in Coeur d'Alene has released a statement saying there is an ongoing standoff between law enforcement officers and the shooter, or shooters, suspected of the attack, which was confirmed in a chilling radio call between dispatch officers and the firefighters who were under attack. 'We now have two deaths. We have an unknown number of casualties. We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain... We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,' Sheriff Robert Norris told local news reporters. The situation is terrifying for firefighters as the out-of-control blaze on the Kootenai County mountain range was still raging and is believed to have been started by those responsible for the attack. Fire crews arrived on the scene and spoke to their dispatch via radio about plans to fight the fire before being ambushed and raising desperate calls for police to attend as they were 'taking fire'. 'Send law enforcement right now, there's an active shooter zone, they're shot, BC1's down, BC3's down ... Everybody's shot up here,' the firefighter screamed through the radio. 'Law enforcement, Code three now up here. We have another firefighter down, and we need law enforcement up here. We need law enforcement,' another firefighter told the radio base. Calls went out to fire crews who were moving toward the fire not to attend and to stay away as the shooter continued on their rampage. 'They shot us with shotguns. We've got two battalion chiefs down with multiple gunshot wounds,' one fireman reported. 'I am pinned down and it is clear to me this fire was set intentionally to draw us in. 'This is an active shooter situation up here. 'I have no idea where the shooter's at or where they're going or what direction. 'I would recommend that all our fire units escape further down towards town,' the firefighter warned across radio channels. Governor Brad Little said on X that multiple firefighters were fired upon while responding to a blaze on Sunday in Kootenai County near Coeur d'Alene.. 'This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,' Little said. 'I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.' Authorities in western Idaho have urged residents to take shelter. The sheriff's office in neighbouring Soshone County said on Facebook authorities were 'dealing with an active shooter situation where the shooter is still at large'. An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 6.5 km north of downtown Coeur d'Alene. Coeur d'Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington. — with AAP.
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Business Standard
30-06-2025
- Business Standard
2 dead after firefighters shot, Idaho police 'taking sniper fire': Sheriff
We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are, the sheriff said AP Coeur d'Alene (US) Firefighters were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community on Sunday, killing at least two people and unleashing barrages of gunfire over several hours in an attack the governor called a heinous assault. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1:30 pm (local time), and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Sheriff Bob Norris said officials believe the two people killed were fire personnel. He didn't know if anyone else was shot. We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are, Norris told reporters at a news conference. We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak. People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it would be safe to assume that others were still up there. Governor Brad Little said multiple firefighters were attacked. 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," Little said on X. 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. I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralise, because they're not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender, the sheriff said. An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 6.5 km north of downtown Coeur d'Alene. The fire was still active, Norris said. It's going to keep burning. Can't put any resources on it right now," he said. The FBI has responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. It remains an active, and very dangerous scene, he wrote in a post on X. 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 outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- The Hindu
At least two killed in sniper ambush as Idaho firefighters come under siege from rifle fire
Firefighters were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community Sunday (June 29, 2025), killing at least two people and unleashing barrages of gunfire over several hours in an attack the Ggovernor called a 'heinous' assault. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Sheriff Bob Norris said officials believe the two people killed were fire personnel. He didn't know if anyone else was shot. 'We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are,' Mr. Norris told reporters at a 4:30 p.m. news conference. 'We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.' People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it 'would be safe to assume' that others were still up there. Gov. Brad Little said 'multiple' firefighters were attacked. 'This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,' Mr. Little said on the social platform X. 'I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.' 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. 'I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize, because they're not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender,' the Sheriff said. An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d'Alene. The fire was still active, Mr. Norris said. 'It's going to keep burning,' he said. 'Can't put any resources on it right now.' The FBI has responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. 'It remains an active, and very dangerous scene,' he wrote in a post on X. 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 outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails.
