Idaho Tragedy: Firefighters Ambushed Amid Blaze on Canfield Mountain
I want to take a moment to talk about something truly devastating that’s come out of Idaho — a heartbreaking incident that unfolded in Coeur d’Alene on a seemingly ordinary Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters were responding to what looked like a standard brush fire on Canfield Mountain, a scenic and much-loved area for hiking and biking, just outside of the city. But what happened next was anything but normal. It turned into an absolute nightmare. As first responders arrived on the scene to battle the fire, gunfire erupted. A gunman — or possibly more than one — ambushed the crews. It wasn’t just random shots. This was a deliberate, targeted attack. Authorities confirmed that two people, believed to be firefighters, were killed. Several others may have been injured, but at this stage, even officials admit the full extent of casualties is still unclear.
Sheriff Bob Norris of Kootenai County described the scene as still active and dangerous — as they were speaking to the press, sniper fire was ongoing. They couldn’t even safely get more fire resources up the mountain because they were literally under fire. Civilians were still being escorted down from the trails, not knowing if more threats lurked in the woods.
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There’s now speculation that the fire itself may have been intentionally set as a deadly trap to lure in emergency crews. That possibility has law enforcement working around the clock, aided by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. A helicopter has been circling overhead, but terrain and ongoing gunfire are making everything incredibly dangerous and difficult.
The Governor of Idaho, Brad Little, called the act a "heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters." He asked all Idahoans to keep the victims and their families in their prayers — and rightly so. These are men and women who ran into danger to protect lives and land, only to find themselves the target of a horrific and senseless attack.
Right now, the area around Canfield Mountain is under a shelter-in-place alert. The suspect, or suspects, are still at large, and the fire continues to burn because it’s simply too dangerous to send more personnel in.
This is one of those tragedies that shakes a community to its core. It’s terrifying, heartbreaking, and maddening all at once. We rely on our first responders to be there in our worst moments — but who’s protecting them when they walk into a trap like this?
What happened in Coeur d’Alene is not just a tragedy for Idaho — it’s a sobering reminder for all of us. Our emergency responders face unknown dangers every single day. And now, in this case, those dangers were manmade and intentional.
We’ll be following this closely, hoping for justice and peace for the families affected. Let’s not look away — let’s remember what’s been lost, and demand answers.
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