Breaking News: Deadly Ambush Claims Lives of Two Heroic Firefighters in Idaho

In a chilling act of violence that has left the nation in shock, two brave firefighters lost their lives in a sniper-style ambush on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sunday, June 29, 2025. What began as a routine response to a brush fire at 1:21 p.m. turned into a nightmare when gunfire erupted, targeting the very heroes who rushed to protect the community. A third firefighter, gravely wounded, is fighting for survival in stable condition after surgery, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.

The horror unfolded when firefighters from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene of a reported blaze. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the crack of high-powered rifle shots shattered the air, with one firefighter’s desperate call to dispatch revealing the chaos: “Everybody’s shot up here… send law enforcement now!” Authorities now believe the fire was deliberately set to lure first responders into a deadly trap, a calculated act that has left the tight-knit community reeling.

Sheriff Norris described the attack as a “total ambush,” stating, “These firefighters did not have a chance.” For hours, nearly 300 law enforcement officers, including SWAT teams, the FBI, and local agencies, swarmed the rugged terrain, engaging in a tense standoff with the gunman. Using cellphone data, authorities zeroed in on the suspect’s location, and by 7:40 p.m., they discovered a deceased man with a firearm nearby, believed to be the lone shooter responsible for this heinous act.

The fallen heroes, one from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the other from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, were honored in a somber procession from Kootenai Health to Spokane, as residents lined overpasses to pay their respects. Idaho Governor Brad Little called the attack a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” urging Idahoans to pray for the victims’ families. The International Association of Firefighters echoed the sentiment, mourning the loss of “two of our brothers” in this “heinous act of violence.”

As the investigation continues, questions linger: What drove this calculated attack? Could the fire, now suspected to be arson, have been the spark of a broader motive? The community of Coeur d’Alene, a serene city of 55,000 nestled near the Washington border, is grappling with grief and disbelief. “This is a day we will not forget,” said Bruce Mattare, chairman of the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners. “Evil showed its face, and we lost two outstanding professionals.”

Stay tuned to NRIGlobe.com for updates on this developing story as authorities work to uncover the full truth behind this tragedy. Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen firefighters and the brave survivor battling for recovery.