In a shocking and “heinous” attack, at least two firefighters were killed and multiple responders came under sniper fire while battling a wildfire on Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho on Sunday, local authorities confirmed. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office reported that firefighters were sent to a minor brush fire in the popular Canfield Mountain nature area, north of Coeur d'Alene, at approximately 1:30 PM local time. Within thirty minutes, firefighters came under sustained gunfire from an unseen shooter hidden in the woods, triggering a frantic response from law enforcement and federal tactical teams.

Sheriff Bob Norris informed local media that the suspect or suspects seemed to be appeared to be using high-powered rifles, shooting from hilly, wooded areas that complicated it for law enforcers to track and neutralise the shooter. "We don't know how many suspects are out there, and we don't know how many are wounded," Norris stated at a tense news conference. "We are taking active sniper fire right now," he added.

Governor Condemns Ambush, Asks Idahoans to Pray

The attack was condemned by Idaho Governor Brad Little as "heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters", and he asked people to remain away from the area and pray for victims and families. "As the situation is still unfolding, please remain away from the area to enable law enforcement and firefighters to carry out their duties," Governor Little implored on X (formerly Twitter). The Kootenai County Emergency Management Office issued an urgent shelter-in-place alert for residents near the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about six kilometers north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.

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The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that people are still evacuating the mountain, raising fears that more victims may be found. The wildfire remains active but cannot be contained as crews remain under threat. “It’s going to keep burning. Can’t put any resources on it right now,” Sheriff Norris said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent tactical and technical teams to the scene to assist local law enforcement. "It's still an active and very hazardous scene," Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated on X.

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Coeur d'Alene, a population of around 55,000 on the Washington border, is famous for its picturesque hiking and bike trails, some of which cross the densely forested Canfield Mountain. Officials have not yet said if the fire was deliberately started to draw first responders into an ambush, but there is an investigation underway. Additional information on casualties, the suspect, or potential motive was unavailable.