Boise, Idaho (AP) – a man who was armed with a rifle began a forest fire on Sunday and then started shooting at first aid in a mountain community in the north of Idaho, killed two firefighters and wounded a third during a flood of shots over several hours, said the authorities.
An order in this position was lifted on Sunday evening after a tactical reaction team had used cell phone data to have “in the rolling state” in a forest area, in which they found the body of the suspect with a fire weapon nearby, when flames approached quickly, said the sheriff Bob Norris from Kootai.
Officials have neither published his name nor said they said what type of weapon was found.
(*2*) said Norris at a press conference on Sunday evening. “These firefighters had no chance.”
Sheriff’s officials said that the crews reacted to a fire at Canfield Mountain north of Coeur d’Aleen around 1:30 p.m., and shots were reported about half an hour later.
The investigators said the shooter acted alone.
“We believe that this was the only shooter who was on this mountain at that time,” said Norris.
Three victims were brought to Kootai’s health, said hospital spokesman Kim Anderson. Two were dead on arrival and the third was treated for injuries, said Anderson. The wounded fireman fought “for his life” after the operation and was in stable condition, said Norris.
The scene was a Pandelian pandemonium when the brush fire burned and firefighters hurried to the scene to get under massive fire.
First aiders have made urgent facilitate with their radio devices: “Everyone shoots up here … Send the law enforcement now,” said shipping.
Governor Brad Little said that the “multiple” fire service personnel was attacked.
“This is a hideous direct attack on our brave firefighters,” said Little about X. “I ask all Idahoaners to pray for them and their families while we are waiting to learn more.”
Norris said it seemed that the sniper hid in gritty terrain and used a powerful rifle. He said that he had instructed the MPs.
Just as the evening press conference was expected, the corpses of the murdered firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane, Washington, accompanied by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles. Firefighters and others welcomed when the vehicles drove past.
In a warning from the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office, people were asked to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettlleton Gulch Road, about 6.5 km north of the city center of Coeur d’Aleene.
Although the application was lifted, the sheriff’s office warned the residents to be prepared because the fire is still burning.
The FBI reacted to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, said deputy director Dan Bongino.
The Republican leadership of the Idaho House said in a statement: “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene and shocked from such a malignant attack on our first aiders. We pray for you, the injured, your families and your colleagues.”
Coeur d’Alene is a city with 55,000 inhabitants near the Washington border. Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and cycle area on the outskirts of the city, covered with trees and massive brushes and with paths that lead to a national forest.
Fire is always a major concern for the region, said Bruce Deming, whose property is concerned with the trail system. When he noticed smoke on the ridge on Sunday afternoon, he wondered why no fire brigade helicopters reacted.
When a friend wrote an SMS to tell him about the shootings, he realized why he saw no planes: “Because they are worried to be shot,” he said.
When the MPs set up posts nearby, Deming pointed them onto a path that begins near his back door and leads directly to the fire town.
“I just don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to find out if someone roams my place,” he said.
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Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press Journalist Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
