A shooter has taken the lives of two firefighters who responded to extinguish a forest fire in a mountainous community in northern Idaho (USA), reports AP. The attacker, who also injured a third emergency worker, started the fire to lure the firefighters, whom he was ambushing. Later, the man was found dead with a weapon at his feet.
The order for people to remain indoors was lifted after a tactical response team found the suspect's body, said Kootenai County Sheriff, Bob Norris.
Authorities did not disclose his name, nor did they say what type of weapon was found. "We believe the suspect started the fire, and we believe it was an ambush and intentional," Norris said at a press conference. "The firefighters had no chance," he added.
Police officials indicated that crews responded to a fire in Canfield Mountain, located just north of Coeur d'Alene, around 1:30 p.m., and half an hour later, shots were reported in the area.
Investigators believe the shooter acted alone. "We believe he was the only shooter on that mountain at that time," Norris said.
Three victims were taken to the hospital, said Kim Anderson, a spokesperson for the medical center. Two were already dead upon arrival, and the third received treatment for gunshot wounds, she added. The injured firefighter was "fighting for his life" after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.
Governor Brad Little indicated that "several" firefighters were attacked. "This is a heinous direct attack on our brave firefighters," Little expressed on the social network X. "I ask all Idaho residents to pray for them and their families as we await more information."
Norris noted that apparently the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he ordered the officers to return fire.
"We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d'Alene, and shocked by such a brutal attack on our rescuers. We pray for them, the injured, their families, and their colleagues," stated the Republican leaders of the Idaho House of Representatives in a statement.
Coeur d'Alene is a city of 55,000 people located near the border with the state of Washington. Canfield Mountain is a popular area for hiking and cycling on the outskirts of the northern Idaho city, covered with dense trees and shrubs, and crossed by trails leading to a national forest.