What was supposed to be a routine firefighting response in northern Idaho turned into a bloody ambush with tragic consequences for two brave firefighters.
At a Glance
● A gunman deliberately set a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to ambush first responders, killing two firefighters and critically injuring a third.
● The suspect, armed with a high-powered rifle, was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
● The attack took place on Sunday, June 29, 2025, near the popular Canfield Mountain trail system.
● Idaho Governor Brad Little called the incident a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.”
An Ambush in the Idaho Wilderness
A routine call to fight a brush fire in northern Idaho turned into a scene of horror on Sunday when a sniper opened fire on first responders, killing two firefighters and critically injuring a third.
Authorities say the gunman deliberately set the fire near Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area outside Coeur d’Alene, to lure the firefighters into a deadly ambush.
Fire crews arrived at the scene around 1:30 p.m. About 30 minutes later, as they began to battle the blaze, a gunman with a high-powered rifle began firing on them from a concealed position in the heavily forested terrain.
“These Firefighters Did Not Have a Chance”
The attack triggered a massive law enforcement response, with officers from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office also coming under fire as they tried to reach the victims. “These firefighters did not have a chance,” a shaken Sheriff Bob Norris said at a press conference, as reported by the Associated Press.
A law enforcement tactical team eventually made their way to the suspect’s location, where they found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His identity has not yet been released, and his motive remains under investigation.
A Community in Mourning
The attack has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit first responder community and across the state.”Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Governor Brad Little said in a statement. “This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families… Teresa and I are heartbroken.”
A solemn procession was held Sunday evening as the bodies of the two fallen firefighters, whose names are being withheld pending full family notification, were transported from Coeur d’Alene to Spokane, Washington. The third injured firefighter remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery. The FBI has joined the investigation into the deadly assault.
