Gunman started Idaho blaze and then fatally shot 2 firefighters in ambush attack, officials say

BOISE Idaho AP A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain group killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours agents declared A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response company used cell phone information to hone in on a wooded area where they identified the suspect s body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris explained Authorities did not release his name nor did they say what kind of gun was identified We do believe that the suspect started the fire and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional Norris announced at a Sunday night news conference These firefighters did not have a chance Sheriff s bureaucrats explained crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d Alene around p m and gunshots were released about a half hour later Investigators reported the gunman acted alone We believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time Norris mentioned Three casualties were brought to Kootenai Wellness noted hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson Two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries Anderson announced The wounded firefighter was fighting for his life after surgery and was in stable condition Norris announced The scene was sheer pandemonium as the brush fire burned and firefighters rushed to the scene only to come under heavy fire First responders made urgent calls for help on their radios Everybody s shot up here send law enforcement now according to one dispatch Gov Brad Little explained multiple firefighting personnel were attacked This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters Little mentioned on X I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more Norris reported it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle He stated he instructed deputies to fire back Just as the evening press conference was expected to begin the bodies of the slain firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane Washington escorted by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles Firefighters and others saluted as the vehicles passed by An alert by the Kootenai County Urgency Management Office required people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road about miles km north of downtown Coeur d Alene Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted the sheriff s office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning The FBI responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical help Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed The Idaho House Republican Leadership commented in a message We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d Alene and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders We are praying for them the injured their families and their colleagues Coeur d Alene is a city of residents near the boundary with Washington Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the city s outskirts covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails that lead into a national forest Fire is perpetually a big concern for the region announced Bruce Deming whose property abuts the trail system When he noticed smoke on the ridge Sunday afternoon he wondered why no firefighting helicopters were responding When a friend texted to tell him about the shooting he realized why he wasn t seeing aircraft Because they re concerned about being shot at he commented As deputies set up posts nearby Deming pointed them to a trail that starts near his backdoor and leads directly to the site of the fire I just don t want to have to wake up in the middle of the night to figure if somebody s out prowling around my place he noted