The Independent

An armed individual or individuals is currently shooting at first responders at the scene of an ongoing brush fire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, likely killing two first responders, according to officials.

The ambush took place as fire crews were responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain.

Two died as a result of the shooting, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said at a Sunday afternoon press briefing. The official said he believed the deceased are firefighters, but had not been able to confirm that information.

No police officers have been hit in the shooting so far, he said, though first responders continue to take active “sniper fire” from what appear to be multiple positions.

“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” Governor Brad Little wrote on X. “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.”

[. . .] “FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d’Alene to provide tactical and operational support,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X. “It is an active scene.”

A Department of Homeland Security helicopter was reportedly seen among the law enforcement assets arriving on the scene, alongside armored vehicles and numerous SWAT police.

[. . .] The shooting began around 2pm and multiple shots were fired, according to the sheriff’s office.

Police are probing whether the fire was set to lure first responders to the area.

Bystanders were reportedly still coming down from the mountain on Sunday afternoon.

Fire crews are unable to continue fully battling the blaze until the security threat is over, according to officials. The initial call about the fire came in around 1:22pm local time on Sunday.