Tragedy on the Front Lines: Two Killed After Gunman Opens Fire on Firefighters Responding to Wildfire Near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
COEUR D’ALENE, ID — What began as a routine emergency response to a reported wildfire near Coeur d’Alene turned into a nightmare for first responders and the North Idaho community on Sunday. Two people were killed after a gunman opened fire on firefighters who had arrived at the scene to contain what they believed was a natural fire outbreak. The shocking and tragic incident has left the region reeling—and the gunman still at large.
According to preliminary reports from local authorities, fire crews were dispatched to a wildfire near the Canfield Mountain area, just outside Coeur d’Alene. The call came in late Sunday afternoon, describing a growing blaze in a wooded, remote region popular with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. As fire crews began assessing the scene and preparing to suppress the fire, gunshots rang out from the surrounding terrain, striking members of the emergency team and causing immediate chaos.
By the time law enforcement arrived and secured the area, two individuals were dead—at least one believed to be a first responder. Several others sustained injuries, though the full extent of those injuries has not yet been disclosed. The victims’ identities are currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin, but officials have confirmed that the deceased were part of the initial response to the fire.
“This was a calculated and cowardly act,” said a spokesperson for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office during a Monday morning press conference. “These men and women responded to a call to help, to protect lives and land. They were met with deadly force instead.”
The shooter remains at large, and a massive manhunt is currently underway involving multiple agencies, including the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, FBI, and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement. Tactical teams and helicopters have been deployed throughout the surrounding forested terrain, searching for the suspect believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. Residents in the vicinity have been urged to stay indoors, lock their doors, and report any suspicious activity.
Investigators now believe that the wildfire may have been intentionally set as a means to lure first responders into an ambush. If confirmed, the incident would represent one of the most chilling and deliberate attacks on emergency personnel in Idaho’s history.
“This wasn’t just an act of violence,” said a retired firefighter speaking anonymously. “It was an ambush. Someone knew that firefighters would respond. That’s what makes this so personal and terrifying.”
The loss has been felt deeply across the region. Flags at emergency service facilities across North Idaho have been lowered to half-staff. Fire departments and law enforcement agencies from across the Pacific Northwest have sent messages of support and solidarity. The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, which assisted in the response, issued a somber statement expressing heartbreak and shock at the unfolding situation.
“Our brothers and sisters in the field face dangers every day—fires, floods, car accidents—but this kind of targeted violence is something no firefighter should ever have to fear,” the statement read.
Grief counselors have been made available to first responders across multiple departments, and plans for a public vigil and memorial are underway as the community struggles to process the horror of what transpired.
As investigators continue to search for the suspect, questions loom about the motives behind the attack and whether any threats had been made prior to the incident. Law enforcement officials have urged anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward.
For now, Coeur d’Alene and the broader Kootenai County community are mourning—grappling with the devastating reality that those who dedicate their lives to protecting others can become targets themselves.
The two lives lost were not just victims—they were heroes, taken in the line of duty while trying to preserve life and land.
Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. And until justice is served, the people of Idaho remain united in sorrow, resolve, and remembrance.
