US: Sniper kills two firefighters in Idaho wildfire ambush

Two firefighters have been killed and a third seriously wounded in the United States after an apparent sniper-style ambush in a mountainous area of northwestern Idaho, prompting a major law enforcement response on June 29.

The fatal attack occurred as emergency crews responded to a brush fire near Canfield Mountain, close to the city of Coeur d’Alene, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed that officers came under fire from a suspect wielding a high-powered rifle.

“We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” Sheriff Norris told reporters, adding that shots had been reported from multiple directions. The public was urged to stay clear of Canfield Mountain, a popular area laced with hiking and biking trails.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated that federal agents would “provide tactical and operational support”, while Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack.

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” he posted on X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.” He continued: “As this situation is still developing, please stay clear of the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs.”

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo also commented on X, saying he was “monitoring the horrific reports out of Coeur d'Alene”.

At a news conference, Sheriff Norris said: “We don’t know if there’s one, two, three or four suspects. We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are.” Authorities believe those killed were both firefighters.

He added: “I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralise, because they’re not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender.” The sheriff warned that unless the assailants were stopped quickly, the situation could escalate into a “multi-day operation”.

Emergency services were first alerted to the fire at around 13:22 local time (20:22 GMT). By 14:00, firefighters had reported gunfire. A law enforcement source informed that the shooter was believed to be concealed within dense brush and thick forest.

Helicopters equipped with heat-seeking technology were deployed to locate the gunman, but visibility was hindered by smoke from the still-burning wildfire. Several hikers were also detected on the mountain, ordered to shelter in place, making it difficult to distinguish between civilians and potential suspects.

Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), confirmed the deaths in a message on X: “While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery. Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.”

Fire Chief Pat Riley told local station KHQ that he was “heartbroken” by the attack.

Kootenai County Emergency Management issued alerts urging people to stay away from the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and surrounding roads, including Nettleton Gulch Road.

One local resident, 80-year-old Linda Tiger, said she was shocked. “This has never happened here,” she said. “But it goes to show that no one is safe from this kind of mental sadness.” She added that she was staying indoors in line with shelter-in-place instructions, though some others in the area appeared unaware of the unfolding situation.

Coeur d’Alene, a city of roughly 56,000 near the Washington state border, is known for its natural scenery and recreational trails. Sunday’s deadly violence has left the local community in disbelief.

By Aghakazim Guliyev