A deadly ambush has claimed the lives of at least two firefighters in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States, after unidentified gunmen opened fire on emergency personnel responding to a wildfire. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has since escalated into a tense and ongoing standoff between law enforcement and the assailants.
Local authorities confirmed the fatal development during a press briefing. Sheriff Robert Norris of Kootenai County disclosed that the situation remains highly volatile, with multiple agencies now involved in managing the crisis on a still-active mountainside fire scene. “We now have two confirmed deaths. We are also dealing with an unknown number of casualties, and civilians are still being evacuated from the mountain,” Norris said.
The sheriff added that law enforcement officers were still under active sniper fire as of the time of the briefing. He confirmed that the individuals killed were believed to be firefighters who had arrived to contain the blaze. “There is no indication that the suspect or suspects are willing to surrender. As soon as any officer has a clear shot, I have instructed that the threat should be neutralised,” he added grimly.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, with Fire Chief Pat Riley expressing his devastation during an interview with local station KHQ. Describing the assault as a heartbreaking loss, Riley confirmed that no formal evacuation order had been issued at the time the fire response teams came under fire, despite the ongoing wildfire.
Authorities have since advised residents in the surrounding areas to remain indoors and shelter in place until the standoff is resolved. The ongoing gunfire and uncertainty around the number and position of the shooters have further complicated rescue and containment efforts on the ground.
This incident adds to the growing concerns over gun-related violence in the United States. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, the country has already recorded at least 189 mass shootings in 2025 alone. The organization defines a mass shooting as any incident where four or more people, excluding the shooter, are killed or injured.
The tragic loss of the two firefighters in the line of duty underscores the rising dangers emergency responders face, not only from natural disasters but also from increasingly unpredictable acts of violence. As investigations continue, there is mounting pressure on law enforcement to restore calm and bring those responsible to justice.
