Two firefighters killed, another wounded after armed man ambushed fire crews responding to blaze in Kootenai County.
Two firefighters have been shot dead and another injured in an ambush while they were responding to a blaze in Idaho state in the northwest United States, as the suspected attacker has been found dead, according to authorities.
Kootenai County Sheriff Richard Norris told a news conference late on Sunday (05:00 GMT, Monday) that, based on preliminary information, the dead person was believed to be the only shooter, adding “there is no threat to the community at this time”.
Earlier, the sheriff’s office said a tactical response team discovered the body of the suspect on Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d’Alene, about 260 miles (420km) east of Seattle, with a firearm nearby. The office did not release his name.
“At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however, there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain,” the statement said.
Norris said the attacker had used a high-powered sporting rifle to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot “with heavy brush, and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings”, the sheriff added.
‘Heinous direct assault’
Video footage from the scene showed smoke billowing from heavily wooded hillsides and armed responders preparing, while several ambulances and emergency vehicles were seen entering a nearby hospital.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”.
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jeff Howard told ABC News that law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set to lure first responders to the scene.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the constitution protects the rights of Americans to “keep and bear arms”.
Deaths related to gun violence are common. At least 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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