A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire on Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in Idaho. Two people have been killed and another is seriously wounded.
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Two firefighters were fatally shot in the US on Sunday and a third one was injured after they were ambushed by gunfire while responding to a blaze in Idaho caused by the shooter, authorities have said.
A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used cell phone data to “hone in” on a wooded area where they found the suspect's body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said.
“We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,” Norris said at a Sunday night news conference. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Sheriff's officials said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene around 1:30 pm, and gunshots were reported about a half hour later.
The barrage lasted several hours, according to authorities. Investigators said the gunman acted alone. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found.
“We believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,” 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 “fighting for his life” after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.
The scene was sheer pandemonium as the brush fire burned and firefighters rushed to it 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.
Idaho Governor Brad Little said “multiple” firefighting personnel were attacked.
“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on 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.