Tragic Incident in Coeur d’Alene: Firefighters Assaulted
In a shocking incident in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, firefighters were attacked while responding to a wildfire on Sunday, June 29. Reports indicate that a lone gunman ambushed them, resulting in the deaths of two firefighters. A third firefighter was injured and has been hospitalized.
The situation unfolded around 2 p.m. when firefighters received a call about a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, roughly 30 miles from Spokane, Washington. As they arrived, a shooter began firing at them. Approximately 300 law enforcement officers were deployed to the scene to assist the firefighters under threat.
Sheriff Robert Norris informed the public that the injured firefighter is currently in stable condition but "fighting for his life." The gunman was later found dead by a SWAT team about an hour after the initial attack.
Investigators believe that the suspect may have intentionally set the fire as part of his plan to target first responders. Around 20 acres were burned during the blaze, which firefighters struggled to control due to the attack.
After the gunman was located, a local shelter alert was lifted, but authorities advised residents to stay prepared for further developments regarding the ongoing fire.
Governor Brad Little expressed his condolences, calling the assault on firefighters "heinous" and urged everyone to avoid the area to allow law enforcement and rescue teams to carry out their work.
The investigation is ongoing, and the coroner’s office will look into the circumstances surrounding the gunman’s death, as officials have not confirmed if it was a suicide. More details about the weapon found at the scene have not yet been released.
