Tragedy struck on Sunday afternoon in western Idaho as two individuals lost their lives in a devastating ambush on firefighters who were responding to a brush fire, authorities confirmed.
The gunfire started around 2 p.m. local time at Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, catching the first responders off guard, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Bob Norris revealed that the victims were likely firefighters, and there are concerns about additional injuries in the incident.
Law enforcement is currently working to ascertain whether there is a lone shooter or multiple perpetrators, with preparations in place to address the threat promptly, Norris stated.
Idaho Governor Brad Little advised the public to steer clear of the area as shelter-in-place directives were put in place for nearby residents.
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Governor Little shared in a post on X.
Little continued, “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.”
This is a developing story. Please stay tuned for updates.
