What began as a routine response to a minor brush fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, quickly turned into a deadly ambush on Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters arriving to battle the blaze were met with gunfire from an unknown assailant lying in wait, resulting in one firefighter killed and another critically wounded. The shocking assault has deeply shaken the local community and raised urgent questions about the safety of first responders facing dangers beyond the flames.
The call to tackle a seemingly straightforward wildfire near a popular outdoor recreation area escalated into a horrifying attack. Firefighters were dispatched around 1:30 p.m., but about half an hour later, gunshots rang out from the surrounding underbrush.
One firefighter’s desperate radio transmission captured the chaos: “Everyone here has been shot.” The sudden violence suggested the blaze was intentionally set as a deadly trap.
BREAKING
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 29, 2025
Scanner audio from Kootenai County Fire confirm multiple firefighters have been shot, and the fire was intentionally set to draw them into an ambush. https://t.co/DtSyboXpLH pic.twitter.com/kQUm5fyGMz
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed in a press briefing that two individuals—believed to be firefighters—were shot during the ambush, with one fatality and another seriously injured.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) quickly condemned the attack in a statement on X, saying, “Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother is currently undergoing surgery. Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your thoughts and prayers.”
Sheriff Norris described the harrowing scene, emphasizing the peril his officers faced under sniper fire. “This is a very fresh and ongoing incident,” he said during a Sunday night briefing.
Later, SWAT teams located a deceased man on the mountain near a firearm, believed to be the shooter. Authorities are investigating whether the fire was deliberately ignited to lure emergency responders into a trap, with Lieutenant Jeff Howard telling ABC News, “We are examining whether the fire was used to draw first responders to the location.”
Ed Davis, former Boston police commissioner, told CNN that the incident represented the “worst-case scenario” for law enforcement. Describing the chilling audio from the scene, he said it resembled a “battlefield” with injured firefighters trapped behind their fire truck, bleeding heavily.
The FBI has joined the investigation, with the Department of Homeland Security also involved, according to officials.
Though a shelter-in-place order for the Canfield Mountain Trailhead has been lifted, residents are urged to remain vigilant due to ongoing fire risks.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack as “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.” He added in a statement on X, “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. I ask all Idahoans to keep them and their families in your prayers as we await further updates.”
This tragic incident lays bare the extraordinary risks firefighters face—not only from the natural elements but from human threats as well.
As investigations continue and the community mourns, the attack stands as a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by those who rush toward danger to protect us all. Supporting and safeguarding first responders remains an urgent priority in the wake of this devastating assault.