Authorities in Idaho say a man who allegedly opened fire on firefighters battling a wildfire has been found dead, following a massive manhunt that shut down a rural area and left two first responders dead and a third seriously injured.
The disturbing incident unfolded on Sunday, June 29, when firefighters responded to a brush fire reported around 1:30 p.m. on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, about 30 miles east of Spokane, Washington. But what seemed like a routine emergency quickly turned into a deadly ambush.
Around 2 p.m., as the crew began efforts to contain the blaze, gunfire erupted. According to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, the responders were deliberately targeted by a shooter who officials now believe may have started the fire as a trap. Two firefighters were fatally shot at the scene, and a third was rushed to a local hospital in stable but critical condition.
By 3:16 p.m., law enforcement — which had mobilized over 300 officers including SWAT teams and tactical units — tracked a cell phone signal to a remote spot on Canfield Mountain. There, they discovered the suspected shooter dead beside a firearm. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the man died by suicide or in a confrontation with police.
“We do believe he started the fire, and it was totally intentional,” Sheriff Norris said at a press conference. He described the situation as “an ambush” and called it “very, very rare” for such violence to erupt in a rural setting.
At the height of the incident, nearby residents were ordered to shelter in place as authorities searched the wooded area for the gunman. That order has since been lifted, though Kootenai County Emergency Management urged locals to remain alert, as the wildfire continues to pose a danger and could require additional evacuations.
Roughly 20 acres of Canfield Mountain were burned before firefighting efforts were interrupted by the attack. Investigators are still working to determine if the original 911 call reporting the fire came from the suspected shooter himself.
The identity of the alleged gunman has not yet been released, and officials are withholding further details about the weapon found at the scene until the coroner’s office completes its investigation.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. 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. Teresa and I are heartbroken.”
He also urged the public to avoid the area to allow authorities and emergency crews to continue their work safely.
As of now, the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The sheriff’s office and local fire and rescue teams have not issued additional updates, and an active investigation is ongoing.
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