Gunman started Idaho blaze and then fatally shot 2 firefighters in ambush attack, officials say

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain community, killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.

A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used cellphone data to “hone in” on a wooded area where they found the suspect's body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said.

Officials did not release his name, nor did they say what kind of gun was found.

“We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,” Norris said at a Sunday night news conference. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”

Sheriff's officials said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later.

Investigators said the gunman acted alone.

“We believe that was the only shooter that was on that mountain at that time,” Norris said.

Three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, said hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. Two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries, Anderson said. The wounded firefighter was “fighting for his life” after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.

The scene was sheer pandemonium as the brush fire burned and firefighters rushed to the scene only to come under heavy fire.

First responders made urgent calls for help on their radios: “Everybody’s shot up here ... send law enforcement now,” according to one dispatch.

Gov. Brad Little said “multiple” firefighting personnel were attacked.

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”

Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back.

Just as the evening press conference was expected to begin, the bodies of the slain firefighters arrived in the nearby city of Spokane, Washington, escorted by a procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles. Firefighters and others saluted as the vehicles passed by.

An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff’s office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.

The FBI responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said.

The Idaho House Republican Leadership said in a statement: “We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d’Alene, and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families and their colleagues.”

Coeur d'Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington. Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the city's outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails that lead into a national forest.

Fire is always a big concern for the region, said Bruce Deming, whose property abuts the trail system. When he noticed smoke on the ridge Sunday afternoon, he wondered why no firefighting helicopters were responding.

When a friend texted to tell him about the shooting, he realized why he wasn’t seeing aircraft: “Because they’re concerned about being shot at,” he said.

As deputies set up posts nearby, Deming pointed them to a trail that starts near his backdoor and leads directly to the site of the fire.

“I just don’t want to have to wake up in the middle of the night to figure if somebody’s out prowling around my place,” he said.

Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.

A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after a few firefighters were killed Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)/

A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after a few firefighters were killed Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

Law enforcement and emergency responders at Cherry Hill Park off 15th Street on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 2025, following reports of an ambush shooting attack on Canfield Mountain, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

Law enforcement and emergency responders at Cherry Hill Park off 15th Street on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 2025, following reports of an ambush shooting attack on Canfield Mountain, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after a few firefighters were killed Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after a few firefighters were killed Sunday, June 29, 2025, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)

Police and fire crews respond to a shooting and fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (Kathy Plonka/The Spokesman-Review via AP)

Stuttgart surged into contention for the Bundesliga's Champions League places after Jamie Leweling scored twice in a 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

On a day when snow cut the Bundesliga schedule from six games to four, Stuttgart made light of below-freezing temperatures.

Stuttgart led 4-0 by halftime against a Leverkusen team missing injured striker Patrik Schick and key players at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both of Leweling's goals came as Stuttgart turned over the ball and surged through the Leverkusen half, either side of a Maximilian Mittelstädt penalty awarded when Leverkusen's Jeanuel Belocian brought down Josha Vagnoman. Deniz Undav made it 4-0 just before halftime.

An Alex Grimaldo penalty midway through the second half was the only consolation for Leverkusen, which has lost three of its last five Bundesliga games.

Following reports in Britain linking Leweling with Bournemouth as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo, Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth told broadcaster Sky, “We don't plan to sell Jamie Leweling. We're happy that we have him.”

Leverkusen and Stuttgart are fourth, both 12 points off league leader Bayern Munich, which plays Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Union Berlin fans spent the week clearing snow around their stadium so their game against Mainz could go ahead. They were rewarded with a late recovery to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Union's game was in doubt, prompting fans to gather with shovels to clear snow from access routes at the stadium on Thursday. Those efforts and lower-than-expected snowfall on Friday allowed the game to proceed, though the damp field soon churned up.

On his return to a club he led into the Champions League before his 2023 departure, Mainz coach Urs Fischer nearly left with a win.

Nadiem Amiri's volley gave Mainz the lead and ex-Union player Benedict Hollerbach refused to celebrate after scoring Mainz's second goal. Union responded with goals from Jeong Woo-yeong in the 77th and a close-range finish from Marin Ljubicic in the 86th to take a point.

A poor tackle cost Hamburger SV dearly in a 2-1 loss at Freiburg which finished amid steady snowfall.

Hamburg had just taken the lead when defender Daniel Edfadli's clumsy challenge gave away a penalty and earned him a second yellow card. Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo converted the spot kick before Igor Matanovic scored the winning goal.

Heidenheim drew with Cologne 2-2. Marvin Pieringer's audacious overhead kick gave Heidenheim the lead early before Cologne twice leveled the score.

St. Pauli’s game with Leipzig and Werder Bremen's against Hoffenheim were postponed because of snow and ice.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah, right, challenges for the ball with Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Freiburg players celebrate after scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Freiburg and Hamburger, in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Silas Stein/dpa via AP)

Heidenheim's Jonas Föhrenbach and Köln's Sebastian Sebulonsen, right, in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Heidenheim and FC Köln in Heidenheim, Germany, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)

Mainz's Benedict Hollerbach, center, celebrates scoring with teammates Nadiem Amiri, left, and Kaishu Sano during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Union Berlin and FSV Mainz 05 in Berlin, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)