Firefighters Shot in Idaho: 2 Killed, Man With Guns Found Dead

Sheriff Robert Norris of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department in Idaho told reporters on Sunday during a press conference that law enforcement was searching for one or more individuals who shot at firefighters attempting to combat a blaze near a popular trailhead.

Norris said two people have been killed, with the full number of injured unknown. The firefighters continued to take active fire from the shooter or shooters for several hours as they try to contain the blaze on the mountain.

A tactical team later on Sunday evening found the body of a man with a firearm nearby, and the sheriff’s office subsequently lifted a shelter-in-place order for the county.

Newsweek has reached out via email and phone to the Couer d’Alene Mayor, Fire Department, and Police Department along with the Spokane, Washington Police Department for more information on Sunday.

The Context

Authorities in Couer d’Alene, Idaho have told residents near the trailhead to shelter in place due to law enforcement activity amid multiple reports of firefighters being shot in an ambush while responding to a fire call.

“If you are in the area of Canfield Mountain Trailhead / Nettleton Gulch Rd. area in CDA, SHELTER IN PLACE,” Kootenai County Emergency Management said in a post on Facebook Sunday, adding “If you are not, AVOID THE AREA due to Law Enforcement activity.”

Couer d’Alene is located in Idaho just over the Washington border about 30 miles east of Spokane.

What To Know

By Sunday evening, the sheriff’s office had lifted the shelter-in-place order after a tactical response team discovered the body of a man with a firearm nearby. Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found.

Norris addressed reporters earlier on Sunday evening, saying that the number of total casualties remains unconfirmed but that they could say at least two fire personnel have been killed by active shooters on the mountain. A third person was injured and taken to Kootenai Health for treatment in an unknown condition, according to The Associated Press.

“We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain,” Norris said. “We have, we might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain. So this is a very, very fresh situation.”

Dozens of emergency vehicles have blocked the roads while responding to a call near the Canfield Mountain Trailhead in Couer d’Alene to a half-acre fire that has since spread. The fire department responded at around 1:21 p.m. local time, and at 2 p.m. local time the sheriff’s department received a call of shots fired.

Norris said that the officers and firefighters are continuing to take active sniper fire and that it remains an active situation. He identified the weapons used as high-power rifles and modern-day sporting rifles with rapid-fire.

“We have multiple agencies that are on scene from local and federal authorities, and we are prepared to neutralize this suspect, who is currently actively shooting at public safety personnel,” Norris said. “We are prepared to neutralize this suspect as quickly as possible, and that’s really all that we know as of right now.”

He added that authorities do not know who the suspects are and said that firefighters reported taking fire from multiple directions, making it likely that they are dealing with multiple shooters.

However, he said that it seems that the suspect(s) are blending in with their surroundings, but hopefully that “somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize” the shooter or shooters.

“As soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot and neutralize the threat,” Norris said.

“We have our emergency operations bureau that is containing assets, and whenever a situation goes beyond the local resources, which this has, like I said, we have other counties that are here,” Norris added. “We have federal authorities that are here, and we will neutralize this threat.”

Firefighting Operations Continue Under Active Shooting

The fire department call sheet shows at least 19 units were on scene, with an additional 12 units en route and one medical unit transporting.

“Right now, we’re developing a plan to be able to suppress these individuals fire fighting capability, and when we get that under control,” Norris explained. “When we have an opportunity to suppress that, we will continue our removing of people who are on the mountain, who are on for a hike, or public safety personnel, or people who live on the backside of the mountain.”

Local television station KHQ said Chief Pat Riley of the Northern Lakes Fire District spoke to them about the shooting, saying “My immediate reaction was completely heartbroken. We trained for this. You never want to see it in your own community.”

The sheriff’s office cautioned residents to remain careful even though the shelter-in-place order was lifted as the fire is still burning as of late Sunday evening.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

Update 6/30/25, 12:55 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 6/29/25, 8:10 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.