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A SWAT team discovered a deceased man alongside a firearm hours after two firefighters were tragically shot in an ambush while combating a wildfire in Idaho, as confirmed by authorities late Sunday.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported that the man was found on Canfield Mountain. Although a shelter-in-place order was lifted, the wildfire remains active. Further details are expected to be provided in a press conference scheduled for 12:30 a.m. ET.
This update follows the International Association of Fire Fighters’ announcement confirming that two of its members lost their lives.
In a statement, the IAFF remarked, “While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery. Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino remarked that the agency’s presence on the scene emphasizes the ongoing danger.
“FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support. It remains an active, and very dangerous scene,” Bongino stated to reporters.
Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris addressed the media, revealing that at least two individuals had died, possibly firefighters. He highlighted the precarious situation stating that they were still “actively taking sniper fire” during his briefing.
“We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties,” remarked Norris. “We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain. We might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain. So this is a very, very fresh situation.”
The sheriff continued, expressing uncertainty regarding the suspect or suspects: “We don’t know who [the] suspect or suspects are, and we don’t know how many suspects there may be.”
A spokesperson for Northern Lakes Fire Protection confirmed that the incident involved an active shooter situation intertwined with the ongoing wildfire, a development confirmed by various law enforcement officials.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office had issued an alert earlier on Sunday stating, “Active shooter at Canfield Mountain. Injuries have been reported, though the severity remains unknown. Please avoid the area.”
While addressing the ongoing crisis, Sheriff Norris mentioned that authorities are developing a strategy to evacuate individuals from the mountainous area once they gain control over the fire.
Officials confirmed that the brave firefighters had been responding to a brush fire near East Nettleton Gulch Road when gunfire erupted.
The sheriff further indicated that the attacker or attackers appeared to be armed with
