By Ariana News
A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain community, killing two firefighters and wounding at least one other during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.
A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used cell phone data to 鈥渉one in鈥 on a wooded area where they found the suspect鈥檚 body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said.
Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found, Associated Press reported Monday morning.
鈥淲e do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,鈥 Norris said at a Sunday night news conference. 鈥淭hese firefighters did not have a chance.鈥
Sheriff鈥檚 officials said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d鈥橝lene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later.
Investigators said the gunman acted alone.
鈥淲e believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,鈥 Norris said.
Three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, said hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. Two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries, Anderson said.
The wounded firefighter was 鈥渇ighting for his life鈥 after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.
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: 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 shot up here 鈥 send law enforcement now,鈥 according to one dispatch.
Governor Brad Little said 鈥渕ultiple鈥 firefighting personnel were attacked.
鈥淭his is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,鈥 Little said on X. 鈥淚 ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.鈥
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.
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.