Politics
BREAKING: Multiple Idaho Firefighters, Cops Shot In Suspected Ambush
At least nine firefighters and two police officers have been shot in a suspected ambush in Northern Idaho, authorities have announced. The gunman, or group of gunmen, are still active as of this report.
Shortly before 2 p.m. local time, multiple firefighters and police officers responded to a brushfire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As fire crews had arrived to deal with the fire, they were met with gunfire and pinned down.
Police believe the fire was intentionally set in order to lure first responders into an ambush, according to a report from the Idaho Tribune. At least nine firefighters were shot, two of them fatally, while two additional police officers were also injured.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an active shooter situation, with Life Flight helicopters and backup from nearby Spokane responding to the scene. Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order for the area around Canfield Mountain, as it is believed the shooter(s) is continuing to fire on law enforcement personnel from the mountain.
“FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d’Alene to provide tactical and operational support,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced in an X post. “It is an active scene.”
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris told reporters that a “high-powered rifle” was used by the shooter, or shooters. “We don’t know if there’s one, two three or four,” shooters, Norris said, with officers reporting bullets coming from multiple directions. “We will neutralize this threat.”
Idaho Governor Brad Little urged people to stay away from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to respond to the scene.
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Little posted 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. Teresa and I are heartbroken.”
“This is going to likely be a multiday operation,” Norris said. “It’s going to be a tough next couple hours … I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize because they are not, at this point in time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Secretary Kristi Noem is “actively monitoring the situation in Coeur d’Alene”
As of 5:44 p.m. local time, it is believed that the death toll in connection with the incident has risen to four. It is not known whether the additional fatalities were among the first responders already shot, additional first responders who were trapped on the mountain, or the suspect(s).
As of 7:41 local time, the situation remains active and the shooter(s) remains at-large. At least 11 first responders have been shot, while the official death toll still stands at two.
The Idaho Tribune is reporting that there are four fatalities, though law enforcement officials have yet to confirm.
A press conference is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. local time.