What began as an emergency due to a forest fire in a mountainous community in northern Idaho ended in a deadly ambush that has shocked authorities and residents in the region. Two firefighters died and a third was injured on Sunday after a man, who allegedly intentionally started the fire, shot at them from a sniper position on Canfield Mountain, a wooded area near the city of Coeur d’Alene.
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According to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, everything indicates that the suspect intentionally started the fire in order to set a trap for the firefighters who responded to contain it. “It was an ambush. These firefighters didn’t stand a chance,” the officer stated in a nighttime press conference.
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During the attack, which lasted for several hours, the firefighters tried to protect themselves behind their trucks while being hit by the shots. A radio dispatch, recorded in the midst of the shootout, reflects the desperation of the first responders: “Everyone is injured here... send the police right away.”
The aggressor, identified as Wess Roley, was later found dead in the mountains, next to his weapon. The exact cause of his death has not yet been determined, and the motive behind the attack is unknown, according to police sources who spoke to the AP agency on condition of anonymity.
The quick response from the authorities included deploying helicopters with snipers and tracking the suspect using data from his cell phone. Meanwhile, the sheriff ordered nearby residents to stay indoors for safety.
The injured firefighter underwent surgery and remains in stable condition, although “fighting for his life,” Norris pointed out.
The attack prompted an immediate outpouring of support in Coeur d’Alene, a city of about 55,000 residents near the border with the state of Washington. Dozens of people lined up along Interstate 90, waving American flags as the bodies of the fallen firefighters were transported to the coroner’s office in Spokane, Washington.
Idaho Governor Brad Little described the attack as “a heinous and direct assault on our brave firefighters” and urged the public to pray for them and their families. Republican leaders in the state House also expressed their dismay: “We are horrified by this murder and shocked by such a ruthless attack on our first responders.”
Although the confinement order has been lifted, authorities warned that the fire is still active and asked residents to be prepared for possible evacuations. Canfield Mountain, where the tragedy occurred, is a popular area for hiking and cycling, covered in dense vegetation and located on the outskirts of the city.