Two firefighters were killed and a third wounded after a sniper opened fire during a wildfire response

A tranquil Sunday afternoon turned into a scene of horror on the slopes of Canfield Mountain, where two firefighters were shot dead and a third critically wounded after being ambushed by a sniper during a routine response to a wildfire.

The attack unfolded just outside Coeur d’Alene, a city of 55,000 in northern Idaho, when emergency crews were dispatched to battle a blaze at around 1.30pm. Within 30 minutes, gunfire erupted across the rugged terrain. First responders made desperate calls for backup: “Everybody’s shot up here… send law enforcement now.”

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the presence of a deceased male suspect near the scene, found armed with a firearm. Sheriff Bob Norris described a chaotic and perilous environment, telling reporters that deputies were under “sniper fire” and had returned fire in an effort to neutralise the threat.

“I’m hoping somebody has a clear shot,” Norris said in a tense press briefing. “They are showing no signs of surrender.”

Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking and biking destination, became the backdrop for the deadly assault. Smoke from the fire still billowed as tactical teams, armoured police vehicles, and federal agents descended upon the scene. The blaze itself was left to burn unchecked as safety concerns prevented firefighting operations from continuing.

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” said Idaho Governor Brad Little. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”

The motive for the attack remains unclear. Authorities haven’t confirmed whether the shooter set the fire or took advantage of the emergency response to carry out the ambush. Sheriff Norris emphasised that investigators were treating the event as both a homicide and an active shooter situation.

The FBI deployed tactical and technical teams to assist, with Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirming their involvement. The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office warned residents that the shooter was initially “still at large,” intensifying fear across the region.

Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Firefighters, expressed heartbreak and fury at the attack. “Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery,” he wrote on social media. “They were ambushed in a heinous act of violence.”

Grim scenes from the site showed heavily armed officers searching the mountainside, their faces etched with urgency. Smoke rose ominously behind them as local and federal law enforcement worked to secure the area.

Idaho House Republican leadership released a joint statement condemning the killings. “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene. This was a vicious, senseless attack on our first responders. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and their courageous colleagues.”

The tragedy has stunned a region unaccustomed to such brutality. Coeur d’Alene, nestled near pristine lakes and mountain trails, prides itself on community and calm — qualities shattered in one shocking afternoon.

As authorities continue to investigate, the identities of the fallen firefighters have yet to be released. Tributes are pouring in, and memorials are expected in the coming days.

In the meantime, the fire rages on — uncontained, dangerous, and now, the haunting backdrop to one of the most devastating attacks on American firefighters in recent memory.