 "US: 2 killed after gunmen open fire on firefighters battling Idaho wildfire. Reuters")
A gunman opened fire on firefighters who were responding to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, killing two people, authorities said. Police were still “taking sniper fire” on Sunday afternoon, according to the sheriff.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said crews arrived at a fire on Canfield Mountain around 1:30 p.m. local time. About 30 minutes later, gunshots were reported.
Idaho Governor Brad Little said that “multiple” firefighters were attacked.
“This is a heinous, direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more,” Little said on X.
The sheriff’s office in neighbouring Shoshone County said on Facebook that the suspect was still at large and authorities were dealing with an active shooter situation.
Officials urged people to avoid the area around the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 6.5 km north of downtown Coeur d’Alene. The fire was still burning, and no further details were released.
Coeur d’Alene is a city of about 55,000 people near the border with Washington state.