Idaho Firefighter Ambush: Two Killed, Former FBI Official Calls It ‘Unprecedented’

 Two Firefighters Ambushed in Idaho: Country and Former FBI Official React

A shocking ambush occurred on June 29, 2025, near Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Two firefighters were killed and a third seriously injured after arriving at a brush fire that authorities believe was intentionally set to lure them in. The attackers used sniper fire from multiple directions, striking the emergency crews as they worked to contain the blaze  

🔥 What Happened

• Crews responded around 1:30 p.m. to a fire in Canfield Mountain Natural Area.

• Roughly 30 minutes later, shots were fired. Officials suspect the fire was set deliberately as a trap

• Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris described it as a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”

• Law enforcement engaged in an hours-long response. SWAT located a deceased suspect on the mountain, with a rifle nearby

• A shelter-in-place order was issued and later lifted once the area was secured

  

  🎯 Law Enforcement Response

  • Around 300 law enforcement officials, including FBI agents, were deployed

  • Tactical operations included aerial surveillance and sniper teams targeting the shooter

  • Authorities confirmed a single suspect acted alone using high-powered rifles

    🧑‍🚒 First Responder and Community Impact

    • The International Association of Fire Fighters called the attack a “heinous act of violence”

    • The wounded firefighter underwent emergency surgery and is now in stable condition

    • A procession honoring the fallen is being held from Coeur d’Alene to Spokane

Governor Brad Little urged Idahoans to pray for victims and their families, calling the event “heinous”

In a shocking and tragic incident near Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, two firefighters were killed and another seriously injured after being ambushed while responding to a brush fire. The attack, which occurred on June 29, 2025, has drawn widespread national attention and sparked a joint investigation involving local, state, and federal authorities.

Officials say the fire may have been deliberately set to lure in first responders before gunfire erupted. The firefighters were reportedly targeted by sniper fire from an elevated position, catching them completely off guard. The wounded firefighter is recovering after undergoing emergency surgery.

Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris called it a “heinous and calculated attack on our heroes.” A deceased suspect was later found on the mountain with a rifle nearby, and no further threats were identified. The entire area was placed under a shelter-in-place order for several hours while tactical teams secured the region.

CNN’s Senior Law Enforcement Analyst and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe reacted strongly during a televised segment, stating, “I’ve never seen anything like this in my law enforcement career.” He confirmed that the evidence suggests the fire was intentionally set to orchestrate the ambush. McCabe also praised the brave firefighters who, while pinned down, managed to call for backup and report casualties over the radio.

The International Association of Fire Fighters called the incident “a targeted act of violence against those who protect us.” Idaho Governor Brad Little expressed deep sorrow, urging all citizens to keep the victims’ families in their thoughts.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive and whether the attacker had any accomplices. Fire and law enforcement agencies are also treating the brush fire site as a crime scene, conducting forensic analysis to determine how the fire was started.

This unprecedented event has deeply shaken the firefighting and law enforcement communities and serves as a grim reminder of the increasing dangers faced by first responders in the line of duty.