Two Firefighters Killed, One Injured in Ambush While Responding to Idaho Wildfire; Suspect Dead

Two firefighters were tragically killed and a third wounded on Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by a gunman while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Authorities confirmed that the fire was intentionally set to lure first responders into the deadly attack.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris stated that crews responded to the fire around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots erupted about 30 minutes later, around 2:00 p.m. First responders immediately came under sniper fire. “This was a total ambush,” Sheriff Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”

The two deceased firefighters were pronounced dead upon arrival at Kootenai Health hospital. The third injured firefighter underwent surgery and is reportedly in stable but critical condition, “fighting for his life.” Their identities have not yet been publicly released. One of the deceased was from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, and the other from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. The injured firefighter was also from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

Following hours of intense search by a multi-agency law enforcement team, including local, state, and federal agencies like the FBI, the suspected gunman was found dead with a firearm nearby on Canfield Mountain. Authorities believe he was the sole shooter and that he acted alone. The motive behind the heinous assault remains under investigation.

Governor Brad Little of Idaho condemned the attack as a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters” and urged Idahoans to pray for the victims and their families.

The incident prompted a prolonged shelter-in-place order for residents near Canfield Mountain, which was lifted after the suspect’s body was discovered. Despite the tactical operation concluding, the brush fire itself was still active, complicating efforts to fully secure the crime scene. Law enforcement officers and firefighters were previously unable to safely approach the blaze due to ongoing sniper fire.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has begun a comprehensive investigation into the attack, seeking to piece together the full circumstances that led to this unprecedented act of violence against emergency personnel.