Firefighters in a northern Idaho mountain community were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals. The attack, labeled a “heinous” assault by the governor, led to prolonged gunfire exchanges over several hours.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place at Canfield Mountain, located just north of Coeur d’Alene. Crews initially attended the fire around 1.30pm (6.30am AEST), and gunshots were heard approximately thirty minutes later.
Sheriff Bob Norris said officials believe the two people killed were fire personnel.
He didn’t know if anyone else was shot.
“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 news conference.
“We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.”
People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it “would be safe to assume” that others were still up there.
Governor Brad Little said “multiple” firefighters were attacked.
“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on the social platform X.
“I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”
Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle.
He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
The sheriff expressed hope that someone would be able to incapacitate the perpetrators since they showed no signs of willingness to surrender at that moment.
An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.
The fire was still active, Norris said.
“It’s going to keep burning,” he said.
“Can’t put any resources on it right now.”
Coeur d’Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington.
Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the outskirts of the northern Idaho city, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails.
