Update: Idaho Sheriff Announces Conclusion to Horrific Firefighter Ambush
In a tragic incident in Coeur d’Alene,Idaho,two firefighters were killed and another critically injured when they were ambushed while responding to a brush fire. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported that a man believed to have carried out the ambush was later found dead near Canfield mountain with a firearm beside him. Sheriff Robert Norris described the event as a “total ambush,” emphasizing that the firefighters had no chance to defend themselves.
The firefighting crew came under gunfire shortly after the initial report of a fire, leading to a significant law enforcement response of approximately 300 personnel.The standoff ended when authorities confirmed the shooter was deceased. Although there’s no known motive for the attack yet, investigators will look into any potential conflicts between the shooter and law enforcement, as well as the shooter’s broader political and societal views. Federal authorities assisted in tracking the shooter’s cellphone signal to the location where he was found.
Sheriff Norris assured the community that there is no further threat, stating, “Based on the preliminary information, we believe that was the only shooter up on that mountain at that time.” The inquiry is ongoing, aiming to clarify the circumstances surrounding this ambush.
The man police believe laid an ambush for Idaho firefighters on Sunday is dead.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office announced that the body of a man was found on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, according to ABC.
The man had a firearm near his body.
BREAKING
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office in Northern Idaho reporting an active shooter incident.
Fire department says multiple firefighters shot and injured while responding to incident in Coeur d’Alene pic.twitter.com/xBmjJSAwYn
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 29, 2025
Two firefighters were killed and another was critically wounded after they responded to a brush fire, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said.
“This was a total ambush,” Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
The initial report of a fire came in at 1:21 p.m. Sunday. By 2 p.m., firefighters reported coming under fire, triggering a response that grew to about 300 law enforcement personnel — some of whom exchanged shots with the gunman.
The standoff ended at about 7:40 p.m. when officials learned the gunman was dead. The shelter-in-place order for the area has been lifted.
Norris, who said he knows of no motive for the attack, stated it was not certain if the man shot himself, according to NBC.
“Based on the preliminary information, we believe that was the only shooter up on that mountain at that time,” Norris said. “There is no threat to the community at this time.”
Norris said the shooter was tracked by a cellphone signal.
“We had a cell phone activation that was in the same spot since about 3:16 [p.m.], and that it was in the same area,” he said. “And we honed in on that cellphone, and we saw that there was a male, appeared to be deceased, with a weapon nearby.”
Norris said federal authorities supplied the technology that tracked the signal.
“There are some helicopters that had some really good technology that were able to pinpoint where that cellphone activity was. So yeah, there was our federal partners assisting us in this situation,” he said.
Norris said snipers were ready if needed.
“We had two helicopters that were up, and we had snipers in them. So, if they had an opportunity to take a shot, then we wanted them to take that shot,” he said.
Shawn Turner, a former U.S. national intelligence communications director, said now the investigation will try to determine why the attack took place, according to CNN.
Investigators will seek to learn “whether or not there was some sort of tension — some sort of strife, conflict between local law enforcement and this individual,” Turner said. Officials will then look at the individual’s wider political and societal views.
Turner said the ambush was “a fairly complex attack where [the shooter] intended to harm more people than he did.”
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
