Multiple People Dead as Shooter Attacks Firefighters Responding to North Idaho Brush Fire

By Christina Lords, Idaho Capital Sun

Two people have been killed after firefighters in North Idaho responded to emergency calls of a brush fire and a shooter opened fire on their response, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.

The fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. Pacific time Sunday near the east side of Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene. The shooter, who opened fire around 2:00 p.m., has not been caught.

A shelter-in-place order has been released by the Kootenai County Emergency Management system. The order includes areas south of Hayden Lake Road and east of 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene. Residents and recreationists near the area of the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road are also asked to shelter in place.

“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Idaho Governor Brad Little said in a post on X. “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. (Idaho first lady) Teresa and I are heartbroken.”

Norris said at a Sunday press conference that he believes that the two people killed were firefighters. The responding fire crews, which included three engines, were dispatched from from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

“We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” Norris said at the 4:35 p.m. Pacific time press conference. “This is an active situation. We have multiple agencies that are on scene from local and federal authorities, and we are prepared to neutralize this suspect who is currently, actively shooting at public safety personnel.”

The sheriff said “it appears modern-day sporting rifles are being used” in the attack.

The governor and emergency response officials urged the public to stay away from the area while police secure the still-active scene.

Number of Shooters is Unknown at Canfield Mountain Incident

Norris said at the press conference that law enforcement is unsure if there is one shooter or multiple attackers. He said officers and deputies are reporting from the scene that the shooter is “blending in with their surroundings” and that shots were being fired from what seemed like multiple directions.

“The first call was at 1:21 (p.m.) on a fire, and then we started receiving over our radio that the firefighters were receiving shots fired from the mountain,” Norris said.

The brush fire is still burning, and Norris said that until the shooter is caught, emergency personnel cannot respond to it.

“It’s going to be a tough next couple hours. I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize (the shooter),” Norris said. “Because they are not showing at this point in time any evidence that they are wanting to surrender.”

Multiple local North Idaho, state and federal agencies have responded to the incident, Norris said.

Dan Bongino, the FBI’s deputy director, said in a post on X said that officials from the FBI had been dispatched “to provide tactical and operational support” to the scene. U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, reposted the update on his account.

“Gut-wrenching news coming from Coeur d’Alene,” Simpson posted on X. “As the situation develops, our thoughts and prayers are with the brave firefighters and all first responders on the scene.”

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both R-Idaho, also posted on X that they are monitoring the reports on the incident and are praying for the first responders and their families.

“I am monitoring the horrific reports out of Coeur d’Alene this evening,” Crapo posted. “I urge local residents to follow recommendations of law enforcement. My prayers are with victims and first responders.”

An additional press conference is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. tonight, according to a Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office press release.

This article first appeared in the Idaho Capital Sun. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.