Police and fire crews respond to a shooting and fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the US on June 29, 2025. Photo: VCG

 
Two firefighters were killed Sunday and another was wounded when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, as crews endured a barrage of gunfire over several hours that the governor called a "heinous" assault. No arrests were announced, US media reported. 

The shooting is unfolding in the Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a 24-acre densely forested park on the east side of Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1:30 pm, and gunshots were reported about a half hour later, Associated Press reported.

"We don't know how many suspects are up there, and we don't know how many casualties there are," Sheriff Bob Norris told reporters at a 4:30 pm news conference. "We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak."

Idaho Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.

"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said on the social platform X and advised local residents to "stay clear from the area" to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their job. 

Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.

The fire was still active and "It's going to keep burning," he said. "Can't put any resources on it right now."

Canfield Mountain Natural Area is a 24-acre park on the east side of the city. There are several hiking and biking trails and heavy tree cover. 

"We have an unknown amount of casualties," Norris said. "We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain. We might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain," CNN reported. 

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told CNN that it appeared to be a "strong possibility" that the fire had been set deliberately. 

"Typically, arsonists - people who set fires intentionally - leave behind really characteristic clues of that nature," he said, adding that a deliberate blaze was "certainly high up on the list of possibilities right now."

Apprehending the active shooter or shooters in the Canfield Mountain Natural Area may be more difficult for law enforcement because of the terrain and fire conditions, said Jason Pack, former FBI agent and veteran firefighter, according to CNN. 

"One thing the fire does is provide cover for the suspect," Pack told CNN on Sunday night. Officials on the helicopter searching for the shooters "do have the technological capabilities there to see through smoke, but it's still going to obscure the vision of the pilots and those coming up on the ground."

Another complication is officials said they are still unsure how many people are on the mountain, Pack said.

"There could be other injuries up there," he said. "Hopefully the shelter in place order was heeded. It's hard to get information out around the rural areas like that."

Global Times