Two firefighters killed, another wounded after armed man ambushed fire crews responding to blaze in Kootenai County.
Two firefighters have been shot dead and another injured in an ambush while they were responding to a blaze in Idaho state in the northwest United States, as the suspected attacker has been found dead, according to authorities.
Kootenai County Sheriff Richard Norris told a news conference late on Sunday (05:00 GMT, Monday) that, based on preliminary information, the dead person was believed to be the only shooter, adding “there is no threat to the community at this time”.
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Norris said the suspect set the fire to lure the firefighters at Canfield Mountain, a popular and scenic hiking and biking area near the outskirts of town. Once the firefighters arrived, someone began shooting at them, killing two.
“We do believe that the suspect started the fire and that it was an ambush, and it was intentional,” he told reporters.
“These firefighters did not have a chance.”
A third firefighter, who was wounded was taken to hospital for surgery.
“He is fighting for his life, but he’s in stable condition,” Norris said.
Earlier, the sheriff’s office said a tactical response team discovered the body of the suspect at Canfield Mountain with a firearm nearby. The office did not release his name.
People watch smoke from a fire after multiple firefighters were attacked when responding to a fire in the Canfield Mountain area outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, US, June 29, 2025 [Young Kwak/Reuters]
“At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however, there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain,” the statement said.
Norris said the attacker had used a high-powered sporting rifle to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
About 300 law enforcement officers were deployed to the scene following the shooting.
‘Heinous direct assault’
Video footage from the scene showed smoke billowing from heavily wooded hillsides and armed responders preparing, while several ambulances and emergency vehicles were seen entering a nearby hospital.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”.
He said in a social media post he was “heartbroken” by the attack.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the constitution protects the rights of Americans to “keep and bear arms”.
Deaths related to gun violence are common. This year, there have been 189 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which it defines as four or more people shot.
In 2023, at least 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Law enforcement officers gather at Cherry Hill Park after firefighters were attacked while responding to a fire in the Canfield Mountain area in Idaho on June 29, 2025 [Young Kwak/Reuters]
The post Lone attacker found dead after ambush on US firefighters in Idaho: Sheriff appeared first on The Alkamba Times.
