Deadly Idaho Fire Response: Two Firefighters Killed in Ambush by Gunman

Two firefighters tragically lost their lives when they were ambushed by sniper fire while battling a blaze in a mountain community in northern Idaho, enduring an ongoing barrage of gunfire over several hours, which the governor denounced as a “heinous” attack. The Kootenai County sheriff’s office confirmed that they responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain and reported gunshots around 1.5 hours later. The sheriff, Bob Norris, stated that officials were uncertain whether anyone else had been injured and was still under sniper fire. Individuals were reported to still be on the mountain, indicating the presence of additional casualties. The state’s governor, Brad Little, emphasized the bravery of the “multiple heroic firefighters” targeted in this attack. He urged Idahoans to pray for the victims and their families. Law enforcement flooded the area, including US marshals, as seen in a photograph posted on social media. The fire continues to burn due to the inability of responders to allocate resources to it. The FBI has also deployed technical and tactical teams to the scene. The incident occurred near Coeur d’Alene, a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington, where Canfield Mountain is a popular area for hiking and biking, characterized by its challenging terrain.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/firefighters-idaho-gunman