A shooter opened fire on firefighters responding to a wildfire in Idaho, killing at least two people in what is still an ongoing situation.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, firefighters from the county’s fire and rescue service responded to a brush fire at Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, about 30 miles from Spokane, Wash., around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 29.
Around half an hour later, a shooter — or possibly multiple gunmen — opened fire with “modern-day sporting rifles,” according to Sheriff Robert Norris at a news conference later in the afternoon, as reported by East Idaho News.
Norris stated that investigators are still “actively taking sniper fire” as of 5:00 p.m. local time, and that the gunman or gunmen show “no sign of wanting to surrender.” Authorities have not yet revealed the reason for the shooting, and the wildfire is still burning.
“We don’t know if there’s one, two, three, or four [shooters],” Norris said during the press conference, according to KXLY. Officers on the scene have reported seeing bullets coming from multiple directions.
“We will neutralise this threat,” Norris continued.
According to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard, officials are looking into whether the fire was set on purpose to draw first responders to the scene.
In a post on X, Edward A. Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, stated that the sniper killed two firefighters and that a third “remains in surgery.” He described the ambush as a “heinous act of violence.”
Norris said an unknown number of people have been injured, and hikers and locals are trapped on the mountain as the shooting continues.
“We still have civilians coming off the mountain. We might have civilians stuck or in shock on that mountain, so this is a very, very new situation,” Norris explained.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on social media that FBI agents were on their way to provide “tactical and operational support” to local authorities.
During the press conference, Norris stated that this could potentially become a “multi-day operation.”
“The next few hours will be challenging…” “I’m hoping that someone has a clear shot and is able to neutralise because they aren’t showing any signs of wanting to surrender right now,” he told reporters.
Several politicians have condemned the shooting, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who stated on social media, “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,” he said later. “Both Teresa and I are heartbroken. Please stay clear of the area while this situation develops so that law enforcement and firefighters can do their jobs.
The fire and shooting broke out in Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a 24-acre public park on Coeur d’Alene’s east side with several hiking trails and dense brush.
The Sheriff’s Office has issued a shelter-in-place warning for the area south of Hayden Lake Road and east of 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene.
