Two firefighters were killed and another was seriously injured Sunday afternoon after a targeted attack on first responders who arrived to battle a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Authorities believe the fire was intentionally set to lure responders into an ambush that resulted in a five-hour standoff and ended with the discovery of a deceased suspect.

The incident began around 2:00 p.m. local time on Canfield Mountain, a heavily wooded area popular with tourists and hikers.

Fire crews from Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue were responding to a report of a small brush fire on the eastern slope of the mountain when gunfire erupted.

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According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, the gunman opened fire from concealed positions in the surrounding woods, catching responders by surprise.

Sheriff Bob Norris said during a press conference, “This was a total ambush, these firefighters did not have a chance.”

Two firefighters—a member of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and a Kootenai County Fire and Rescue firefighter—were fatally shot during the attack.

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A third firefighter from Coeur d’Alene was also struck by gunfire and was transported to Kootenai Health, where he underwent surgery.

“He is fighting for his life but he’s in stable condition,” Norris said.

No additional injuries were reported among the emergency personnel or civilians.

The assault triggered a large-scale law enforcement response involving local and state agencies, as well as the FBI.

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Tactical teams secured the area while two helicopters equipped with snipers patrolled overhead.

“We had two helicopters that were up and we had snipers in them, so if they had an opportunity to take a shot we wanted them to take that shot. We wanted to neutralize that threat,” Norris said.

The confrontation ended roughly five hours later when SWAT personnel located a deceased male on the mountain near a firearm.

Authorities believe he was the sole shooter involved in the attack.

“We have currently one dead shooter based on the preliminary investigation that was being conducted,” Norris stated.

“Keep in mind we had a fire that was rapidly approaching the body so we had to scoop up that body and we had to transport that body to a different location. We believe that it is the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time.”

The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.

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Based on initial findings, authorities suspect that the fire was deliberately set to draw first responders to the scene.

“We do believe that the suspect started the fire and we do believe it was an ambush and it was intentional,” Norris said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation provided tactical and operational support.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that approximately 300 first responders were deployed during the operation.

As the investigation into the shooting unfolded, resources were diverted away from the wildfire.

The fire, estimated at nearly 20 acres in size, remained active as of Sunday evening.

“It’s going to keep burning. Can’t put any resources on it right now,” Norris said prior to the discovery of the suspect’s body.

Governor Brad Little issued a statement on X in response to the incident. “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” he wrote.

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“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken.”

A shelter-in-place order was issued Sunday afternoon for the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and nearby areas as the situation developed.

That order has since been lifted, although law enforcement continues to urge caution due to the ongoing fire.

The incident remains under active investigation.

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