Two firefighters were killed and a third was in serious condition after being ambushed in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The shooting occurred on Sunday while they went to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office conducted a press conference to release important information. Authorities later discovered a man dead on the mountain with a gun beside him and believe he was the gunman.
Police lifted the shelter-in-place order after recovering the body. The wildfire continues to burn, and authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant.
Shooter Dead on Mountain
A SWAT unit discovered a dead man on Canfield Mountain. A gun was found next to the body. Authorities have not officially identified him. Nevertheless, based on evidence, they think he had carried out the ambush.
“Earlier tonight, SWAT members found a dead male… A gun was discovered nearby,” the sheriff’s office reported in a press release.
Shooter Thought to Have Acted Alone
Sheriff Bob Norris confirmed there remains no further threat to the community. The shooter probably acted alone, he said. “From what preliminary information we have, we think that was the sole shooter on that mountain at that point in time,” he said. No other suspects were spotted in the region. Police detected no indication of any accomplices.
Authorities have now removed the shelter-in-place directive. Emergency crews are still keeping an eye on the wildfire, however. Local residents should remain ready to receive additional instructions.
Firefighters Ambushed Fighting Fire
The shooting started when one person placed a 911 call to report a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. Firefighters moved fast. While they were working, a shooter ambushed them. The shooter killed two firefighters at the scene and badly wounded a third. He had emergency surgery and is stable.
Was the Fire a Trap?
Investigators are examining whether the 911 caller was the shooter, but they have not confirmed it yet. Officials suspect the fire could have been a trap to draw emergency responders.
“You can anticipate some of those things happening in a city environment,” Norris said. “But in a rural environment? This is extremely, extremely, extremely uncommon.”
Investigation Underway
Police have not named the victims or the alleged gunman. The people of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho are in mourning. Tributes flowed into the fallen firefighters. Officials have lowered flags around the county.
Authorities are still investigating the identity of the shooter, the source of the fire, and the motive.