Two killed in Idaho wildfire ambush on firefighters
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Firefighters battling a wildfire in Idaho's Kootenai County were ambushed by gunmen, killing two. Authorities face sniper fire in an ongoing standoff with the assailants.
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US police forces present near the site of a shooting incident that targeted firefighters in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States. (Social media)
Firefighters responding to a wildfire in Idaho were ambushed by gunmen on Sunday, leaving at least two dead, according to the local sheriff, as an ongoing standoff with an unknown number of attackers continues in the northwestern US state.
As flames continued to spread across the mountainside in Kootenai County, a well-known recreation and hiking destination, Sheriff Robert Norris informed reporters that law enforcement officers were engaged in an active gunfire exchange with at least one armed suspect.
"We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties. We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain.... We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak," the sheriff stated at a press conference.
He stated that the ambush involved high-powered rifles, emphasizing that law enforcement's current objective is to locate and neutralize the attacker or attackers upon sight.
Sheriff Norris stated that the shooter displayed "no evidence of wanting to surrender" and emphasized, "As soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot to neutralize the threat." He confirmed that authorities believe the two deceased victims were firefighters.
Suspects were well-prepared
Authorities did not believe the suspects were barricaded in a structure, the sheriff explained, adding that the assailants were instead concealed within dense vegetation, using the heavy brush to blend into their surroundings as law enforcement continued their search.
The sheriff noted the assailants appeared "well-prepared," while acknowledging authorities remained uncertain about their exact numbers, stating it could be "one, two, three or four" shooters involved in the attack.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino characterized the situation as "an active scene," confirming the bureau's deployment of personnel to offer tactical and operational assistance as the incident unfolded.
Local fire chief Pat Riley expressed being "heartbroken" by the attack while telling KHQ-TV that despite the ongoing fire, no evacuation orders had been issued as authorities continued to assess the situation
The fire chief acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the casualty count while confirming that all victims belonged to the firefighting teams.
