Idaho Ambush: Two Firefighters Killed, One Wounded While Fighting Blaze

On June 29, 2025, at around 1:20 p.m., firefighters responded to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Approximately 30 minutes after they arrived, a shooter—believed to be alone—opened fire with a high-powered rifle. Aimed as an ambush, the blaze appears to have been set intentionally to lure victims into the open.

Casualties and Rescue Response

• Two firefighters—one from Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and another from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue—were fatally wounded, both pronounced dead at the scene.
• A third firefighter was critically injured and remains hospitalized in stable condition following surgery.
• A massive multi-agency deployment—more than 300 law enforcement personnel, including FBI, ATF, and Spokane-area units—responded. Sniper-equipped helicopters and air ambulances were also dispatched.

The suspect hid on the mountain and engaged responders in an hours-long standoff, exchanging fire with law enforcement. Authorities tracked him via cellphone pings and later found him dead at approximately 7:40 p.m., with a rifle nearby. It remains unclear whether he died by suicide or was shot.

• The blaze—dubbed the Nettleton Gulch fire—scorched about 17–20 acres of forested terrain.
• A shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby residents and hikers, then lifted by evening once the shooter was confirmed neutralized.
• Fire suppression continued into the night and next day, complicated by rugged land, ongoing flames, and remaining weapons.
• Sheriff Robert Norris called it a “total ambush,” adding firefighters “did not have a chance”.
• Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack on social media/X, calling it a “heinous direct assault” on brave first responders.
• The International Association of Fire Fighters mourned the loss and urged residents to support the injured first responder .
• This is a stunning escalation in violence against emergency personnel, amid wider U.S. reports of targeted attacks .
• The method is chilling: deliberately setting a fire to bait responders into crossfire, marking a disturbing new threat pattern

First responders now face risk while tackling the very emergencies they’re called to control.

The response involved extensive coordination across local, regional, and federal levels. This event may influence future training, equipment, and protocol for high-risk response operations.