A shelter-in-place directive was removed after the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported discovering the suspected shooter deceased on Canfield Mountain, with a weapon found nearby.
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Two firefighters were killed in an ambush shooting near Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene on Sunday afternoon.
The Coeur d’Alene police, fire teams, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reacted to reports of both a shooting and a wildfire occurring on Canfield Mountain at around 1:30 p.m.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office stated that units from the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to tackle the wildfire on Canfield Mountain. While there, it was reported that someone fired shots at the firefighters present at the site.
2 firefighters are confirmed dead, one from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. The sheriff’s office said another firefighter from CDAFD was hospitalized.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said around 7:45 p.m., members of SWAT located a man dead on the mountain with a firearm nearby. The sheriff’s office said they believe the man found was the only shooter. It is also believed that the same suspect started the fire on the mountain.
“This was a total ambush. Those firefighters didn’t have a chance,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.
KCSO says the Idaho State Police are investigating whether it was law enforcement gunfire that killed the suspected shooter.
A shelter-in-place order has been lifted and the sheriff said there is no longer a threat to the community, but also noted that a wildfire is still active on Canfield Mountain and firefighters are working to contain that fire.
Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready to act if further orders are given.
The sheriff’s office says an active investigation is ongoing and nearly 300 enforcement members responded, including snipers deployed in helicopters.
KCEM said as of 7 p.m., Canfield Mountain has been designated as a “no-fly zone,” including a strict prohibition on drone use. KCEM says unauthorized aircraft or drones in the area pose a serious risk to firefighting and law enforcement operations.
This is a developing story. KREM 2 has a crew on the scene gathering details.
