Idaho (BN24) – Residents of Coeur d’Alene, in Idaho, the United States, lined the highway in solemn tribute on Sunday as a procession carried the bodies of two firefighters killed in an ambush near Canfield Mountain. The firefighters, who were responding to a brush fire, were gunned down in an attack that has left this tight-knit community grappling with grief and disbelief.
The procession, which transported the fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health to Spokane, Washington, drew large crowds of mourners. Many stood in silence, waving American flags or holding each other close as emergency vehicles passed.
“It was very moving to see all the people that came out,” said Bill Buley, assistant managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press. “They just kept coming. Even after the procession was done, people were still coming out.”
Buley described the collective heartbreak in a city where many residents personally know first responders. “I think a lot of people were hit hard to think this could happen—to their firefighters, the front-line guys who are there to protect them,” he said. “Coeur d’Alene is a pretty small community. When this happened, people were really shaken and just wanted to come out and show their support for the firefighters and their families.”
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said the ambush unfolded Sunday afternoon, when firefighters battling the Nettleton Gulch Fire came under gunfire. Law enforcement raced to the area, where the gunman continued shooting as crews attempted to contain the flames.
Retired FBI Special Agent Steve Moore told CNN that the suspect’s cell phone played a crucial role in helping officers track and ultimately end the threat within about 90 minutes. “At 2:00, the firefighters called and said they had been ambushed,” Moore said. “Responders were engaging the shooter, and around the time the phone stopped moving in the woods, either the officers neutralized the suspect or he took his own life.”
Moore credited the swift law enforcement response with preventing further tragedy. “They resolved this within 90 minutes. I’m very impressed,” he said.
Kootenai County Commissioner Bruce Mattare called the attack “unheard of” and difficult for residents to comprehend. “Thank God it’s over. It’s so tragic,” Mattare said. “The people we lost were absolutely top-notch professionals. It’s unheard of for something like this to happen here.”
Mattare said the outpouring of public support has been overwhelming. “This is a great place to live, and something like this just doesn’t happen,” he said. “The procession and the number of people who came out to show their support have been incredible.”
The shooting triggered a massive law enforcement and emergency response that included local, state, and federal agencies. The Idaho National Guard even offered a Black Hawk helicopter to assist, Mattare said.
The investigation into the attack remains active. Sheriff Norris said the suspect’s body was recovered in an area compromised by fire, forcing crews to act quickly to preserve evidence.
“We felt like since the fire was approaching, we needed to scoop up the body,” Norris said. “We had to do what we had to do.”
Authorities have not released details about the weapon recovered with the gunman, citing the need for additional searches once the fire threat recedes. “There’s a likelihood that when we are able to enter the scene again tomorrow without the threat of fire, we’ll find other weapons that were placed,” Norris said.
The area where the suspect was found has been secured, and crews are expected to remain overnight before investigators return in daylight.
