Two firefighters killed after sniper ambushes crew in Idaho
The firefighters came under fire on Sunday and it is suspected that the bushfire was started deliberately to lure them into a trap.
The body of a man was found with a gun near by, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said as it lifted a 'shelter in place' order. Officials said they believed the man had been acting alone.
It is believed that the fire was started deliberately
C JONES/AP
'We do believe that the suspect started the fire,' Sheriff Robert Norris, of Kootenai County, said. 'This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance.'
A third firefighter was 'fighting for his life' after surgery and was in a stable condition, Norris added.
Officials said that the fire department responded to the fire at about 1.20pm local time and firefighters reported coming under attack soon afterwards.
More than 300 law enforcement officers were at the scene, including two helicopters with snipers on board. Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but it was not clear whether he was hit by police or killed himself.
Norris said the sniper used a high-powered sporting rifle. Officers were initially unsure of the number of gunmen involved. Norris said officers were likely to find more guns at the scene on Monday, once the fire was extinguished.
The Idaho governor, Brad Little, said on X: '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.'
The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook asking residents to avoid the city of Coeur d'Alene. The attack was unfolding in the Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a park on the edge of the city.
Norris had said that officials were making plans to contain the shooting before moving to evacuate those trapped on the mountain. 'When we get that under control, when we have an opportunity to suppress that, then we will continue our removing of people who are on the mountain, who are on for a hike, or public safety personnel or people who live on the back side of the mountain.'
Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, said the agency would be providing support and that it remained an 'active scene'.
Pam Bondi, the attorney-general, shared a statement thanking the FBI. 'We are praying for all,' she said.
The wildfire would not be extinguished until the snipers had been 'neutralised', Bill Deruyter, the deputy fire chief of Coeur d'Alene, said.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) said 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.'
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