At least two first responders were killed and numerous others were injured after they were shot in an ambush while responding to a fire in Idaho, with harrowing police scanner recordings revealing the terror they faced.
An unknown number of assailants allegedly set the blaze as bait for the first responders in Coeur d’Alene.
They then began firing as firefighters arrived on the scene at around 2pm, authorities said at a news conference Sunday night, noting that the suspects – who are believed to have been using high-powered rifles – were still shooting at the time.
‘We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,’ Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris announced. ‘We’re taking rapid fire.’
He added that authorities are trying to take those responsible into custody, but noted that the heavy brush is making it difficult to apprehend them.
‘We don’t know if there’s one, two, three or four,’ Norris said.
Firefighters who responded to the scene were even heard on radio traffic saying they were unsure where gunmen may have been firing from.
‘I have no idea where the shooters [are] at or where they’re going in, in which direction,’ one person could be heard telling dispatch, according to NBC News.
Police officers and firefighters who responded to the scene of a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho were shot at on Sunday afternoon
The fire was still blazing Sunday night as crews were forced to pull back when the shooting began
Authorities are working to bring the assailants into custody, as Sheriff Bob Norris gave the authority to shoot to kill them
‘I would recommend that our units, all of our firing units, escape further down the pavement towards town, maybe a half a mile or so to a safe staging area.’
He continued to say they were going to need ‘multiple ambulances’ at the scene.
‘As soon as we get law enforcement in here to get these people out, I recommend we get no less than five… ambulances staged at the bottom. I don’t care where we get them from.’
In an earlier report, another firefighter could be heard crying out: ‘Send law enforcement right now! There’s an active shooter zone.’
‘Everybody’s shot up here!’ the firefighter continued, noting that two battalion chiefs were ‘down.’
He was later heard warning his fellow firefighters, ‘Stop. Do not come up here.’
As the shooting continued Sunday evening, Sheriff Norris gave police the authority to shoot to kill the perpetrators if they are given the opportunity.
‘I am hoping someone has a clear shot, they are not showing any signs of wanting to surrender,’ Norris said of the shooters, adding that it is ‘going to be a tough couple of hours’ as the fire continues to burn and civilians may remain trapped on Canfield Mountain.
Northern Lakes Fire District Chief Pat Riley had earlier explained to KHQ that the fire crews were forced to pull back as the shooting began.
He then said at the news conference that he is not deploying any more firefighters to the area until the threat is neutralized.
In the meantime, residents are being asked to avoid the area, and those who are stuck on the mountain are urged to shelter in place.
Life Flight helicopters were deployed to the scene, and photos and videos posted online show a large police presence in the surrounding area with authorities from Spokane, Washington providing assistance in what they described on social media as an ‘active, ongoing incident’ on East Nettleton Gulch Road.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also confirmed on social media that assets were heading to the scene to provide ‘tactical and operational support,’ and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the US Forest Service has deployed additional firefighting and law enforcement resources.
Additionally, law enforcement agents and medical professionals were on standby at Kootenai Health, where one firefighter remained in surgery Sunday night.
It is believed at least one shooter set a fire intentionally to draw first responders to the scene
Law enforcement officers gather at Cherry Hill Park after multiple firefighters were attacked
US Marshals were pictured at the scene of the shooting on Sunday evening
Photos and videos posted online show a large police presence in the surrounding area
A United States Customs and Border Protection helicopter lifts off from Cherry Hill Park in search of the shooters
Fire Chief Riley said he ‘was completely heartbroken’ when he got the news of the shooting.
‘We trained for this. You never want to see it in your own community.’
The shooting prompted the evacuation of the Fernan Gun Club, whose members were told there was a sniper in the area, the Coeur d’Alene Press reports.
But resident Mark Lathrop expressed more concern about the fire than he did about the active shooting.
‘They have cleared the underbrush, but where they’re going to be, it’s going to be pretty thick and it’s very, very dry. We haven’t had a lot of rain here,’ he told CNN, noting that there are also a lot of places where the suspects could be hiding out.
‘If you went away from town, these logging roads go 30 to 50 miles. You’ll hit another town, so quite a big area to search,’ Lathrop said.
The fire continued to burn on Canfield Mountain Sunday evening
Roads were shut down in the area as authorities responded to the scene
An armored police vehicle travels towards Canfield Mountain
Meanwhile, Idaho Gov. Brad Little has called the attack 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,’ he said, adding that he and his wife are ‘heartbroken’ by the news.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also said her department is actively monitoring the situation.
‘Pray for Idaho’s first responders,’ she wrote on X. ‘Justice will be served.’
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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