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Firefighters found themselves under sniper attack while addressing a fire in a mountain community in northern Idaho on Sunday, resulting in at least two fatalities. This assault, which spanned several hours and involved multiple rounds of gunfire, was described by the governor as a “heinous” act.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported that emergency teams arrived at a fire on Canfield Mountain, located just north of Coeur d’Alene, around 1:30 pm (6:30 am AEST), with gunfire being reported about 30 minutes afterward.
Sheriff Bob Norris said officials believe the two people killed were fire personnel.
He didn’t know if anyone else was shot.
“We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are,” Norris told reporters at a news conference.
“We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.”
People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it “would be safe to assume” that others were still up there.
Governor Brad Little said “multiple” firefighters were attacked.
“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on the social platform X.
“I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”
Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle.
He said he instructed deputies to fire back.
“I’m hoping someone gets a clear shot and can neutralize the situation, as the suspect is currently showing no signs of wanting to surrender,” stated the sheriff.
An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.
The fire was still active, Norris said.
“It’s going to keep burning,” he said.
“Can’t put any resources on it right now.”
Coeur d’Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington.
Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the outskirts of the northern Idaho city, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails.
