What started as a routine emergency response to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, quickly turned into a deadly ambush that has left the entire community in shock. Two firefighters lost their lives, and a third remains in critical condition after a gunman opened fire on emergency personnel Sunday afternoon, according to local authorities.
The harrowing event unfolded when fire crews were dispatched to respond to what initially appeared to be a small brush fire near a popular outdoor recreation area. Around 1:30 p.m., emergency teams arrived on the scene and began working to contain the blaze. But just thirty minutes later, chaos erupted. Shots rang out from the woods surrounding the area, and it became clear that this was no ordinary wildfire call.
One firefighter urgently radioed for assistance, his voice laced with panic. “We need law enforcement up here immediately,” he pleaded. “Everybody’s shot up here.” The audio, obtained by CNN, paints a terrifying picture of first responders coming under direct attack while doing their jobs.
According to one firefighter on the scene, there was little doubt about the intent behind the fire. “It’s clear to me that this fire was set intentionally to draw us in,” he said over the radio. “Send law enforcement right now, there’s an active shooter zone.” It was a deliberate and calculated ambush — a horrifying scenario that no emergency worker should ever have to face.
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris later confirmed that two of the individuals killed were members of the firefighting team. During a press conference, he emphasized the gravity of the situation and the ongoing danger that law enforcement and emergency personnel were dealing with. “We are actively taking sniper fire,” Norris stated, underlining just how perilous the situation had become.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the national union representing professional firefighters, released a statement on social media confirming the tragedy. “While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence,” the statement read. “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.”
As local, state, and federal authorities began to piece together what happened, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported that a SWAT team later discovered a male suspect deceased on the mountain, with a firearm located nearby. Though the investigation is ongoing, authorities strongly believe he was responsible for the deadly shooting.
The emerging theory is deeply disturbing: that the fire was deliberately set as a trap to lure in emergency responders. “We’re looking into whether the fire may have been used to draw first responders to the scene,” said Lt. Jeff Howard of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office in an interview with ABC News.
The idea of first responders being intentionally targeted is one of law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis spoke with CNN, expressing horror at the events. “Getting a call about firefighters coming under gunfire is a worst-case scenario,” he said. He described the situation as sounding “almost like a battlefield scene,” noting the desperation and danger in the voices of those calling for help.
“You feel for the firefighters that were calling that in,” Davis continued, “because there were literally people that were bleeding to death on the ground, and they were pinned down behind their fire truck.” The emotional weight of the situation has rippled through the law enforcement and emergency response communities nationwide.
In the aftermath of the attack, the FBI has joined the investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security has been briefed. The Canfield Mountain Trailhead and surrounding areas were placed under a temporary shelter-in-place order, which has since been lifted. Still, residents in the area are being asked to remain vigilant due to the ongoing wildfire threat.
The outpouring of grief and support has come from across the country, with local, state, and federal leaders offering condolences. Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the shooting as “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.” In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote, “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”
As investigators continue to dig into the shooter’s background, motives, and whether he acted alone, questions remain about how such a calculated act of violence could happen in a peaceful part of the country like Coeur d’Alene. The small city is known for its natural beauty, its tight-knit community, and its love for the outdoors — not for tragedy of this magnitude.
For now, the priority remains on supporting the families of the victims and ensuring the safety of first responders who continue to work under difficult and dangerous conditions. Mental health professionals are being made available to those affected, and public officials have vowed to hold those responsible accountable — even as the suspect is believed to be dead.
This tragic event is a stark reminder of the risks that firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers face every day — not only from natural hazards like fire and smoke, but increasingly from the threat of violence. In moments when communities are at their most vulnerable, these individuals run toward danger to help others. The events in Coeur d’Alene highlight the tremendous courage and sacrifice involved in public service — and the terrible cost it can sometimes demand.
As the community begins the slow process of healing, one thing is clear: the legacy of the firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty will not be forgotten. Their bravery, and the horror of what happened, will remain in the hearts of the people of Idaho and across the nation.
