The fire was set to lure the firefighters into an ambush, authorities said. When they arrived, somebody began shooting at them.
Two firefighters tragically lost their lives, and another sustained severe injuries in a devastating incident near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The shocking ambush and shooting occurred while the firefighters were bravely battling a wildfire in the area.
Here’s what to know about Sunday’s attack, the investigation and next steps.
Ambush starts with a brush fire
The distressing event unfolded when the firefighters promptly answered a call about a brush fire at Canfield Mountain, a picturesque spot known for hiking and biking. Upon their arrival, they faced gunfire from an unknown assailant.
The fire was set to lure the firefighters into an ambush, Norris said.
“These firefighters did not have a chance,” he said.
Local authorities swiftly took action, securing the surrounding neighborhoods and launching a search operation in the challenging terrain characterized by dense vegetation, hilly landscapes, and smoke from the ongoing fire.
First hours are chaotic, with injuries and number of shooters unknown
Over the next few hours, it wasn’t clear if hikers or other recreationists were stuck on the mountain, or if any civilians had been injured in the shooting, Norris said. What was clear was the danger the firefighters and responding law enforcement faced. They exchanged gunfire with the shooter, he said.
“We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are,” Norris told reporters at a Sunday afternoon news conference. “We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.”
A spokesperson with Kootenai Health later confirmed that three patients were transported to the hospital — two were dead by the time they arrived and a third was injured.
The deceased included a firefighter from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and one from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. A third firefighter was badly injured but had made it through surgery and was “fighting for his life,” Norris said later that night.
Cellphone data helps law enforcement find the suspect
Faced with more than 17,000 square feet (1,580 square meters) of containment area, part of it burning, authorities used cellphone data to narrow their search. They identified a cell signal around 3:15 p.m. and noticed it had not changed location for some time, Norris said.
A tactical response team went to the location and found a deceased man with a weapon nearby. Officials believe the man was the shooter, the sheriff said. Investigators said the gunman acted alone.
The fire complicates the crime scene
The fire was burning close to the body of the suspect, and so authorities had to “scoop the body up” before it was engulfed in flames, Norris said.
Crews were stationed around the area overnight and the sheriff said the investigation would continue Monday morning.
Norris said investigators believe that once they are able to fully search the area, they may find that more weapons had been placed by the suspect.
Names and other details have not been released
The names of the slain and injured firefighters have not been released.
Nor has the name of the suspect, whose identity authorities are waiting to confirm, Norris said.
A procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles accompanied the bodies of the fallen firefighters as they were taken from the hospital in Coeur d’Alene to the medical examiner’s office in Spokane, Washington, a neighboring city just across the state line.
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