Sniper starts fire then kills two firefighters in 'total ambush'

A sniper started a fire and then killed two firefighters he had lured to the scene in Idaho, a local sheriff has said.

A third firefighter underwent surgery after being wounded, Bob Norris, the sheriff of Kootenai County, said.

"We do believe that the suspect started the fire," Mr Norris told a news conference.

"This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance."

Officers said they were "taking sniper fire" near the city of Coeur d'Alene on Sunday afternoon, with crews responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain.

Mr Norris said the gunman had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders. The ambush continued for several hours.

The shooter was described as being in an area with "heavy brush" and "well prepared and blending in" with his surroundings.

Initially it was unclear how many perpetrators were involved.

More than 300 officers from city, county, state and federal levels responded. Two helicopters were deployed with snipers onboard.

Sheriff Norris said he instructed his deputies to fire back.

Speaking while the attack was ongoing, he said: "I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralise, because they're not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender."

First responders could be heard making urgent calls for help on their radios: "Everybody's shot up here... send law enforcement now," one dispatch said.

Later, the sheriff's office said members of a "SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain", adding that a "firearm was found nearby".

It is unclear whether the gunman was hit and killed or if he killed himself.

Mr Norris said officers were working to identify the suspect, while a motive is not yet known.

Officers were likely to find more guns at the scene on Monday once the fire was extinguished, he said, but did not provide more details on weapons already recovered.

Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.

"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," he said on X. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."

The president of the International Association of Firefighters, Edward Kelly, said on social media that firefighters were "ambushed in a heinous act of violence", adding: "Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery."

The FBI sent technical teams and tactical support to the scene, deputy director Dan Bongino said.

The Idaho House Republican Leadership said in a statement: "We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d'Alene, and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families and their colleagues."

Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking spot on the outskirts of Coeur d'Alene, a city of about 55,000 people in northern Idaho.

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