The gunman, who investigators said acted alone, began shooting after crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just, north of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Sunday afternoon.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters came under sniper fire during the incident and a Special Weapons and Tactics [SWAT] team later 'located a deceased male' close to where the attack took place.
The fire grew to 20 acres after it was first reported and continued to burn into Sunday night, Sheriff Bob Norris said.
“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.”
The scene was sheer pandemonium as the brush fire burned and firefighters rushed to the scene only to come under heavy fire.
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.
"Three victims were brought to Kootenai Health, two were dead on arrival and the third was being treated for injuries," said hospital spokesperson Kim Anderson. The wounded firefighter was “fighting for his life” after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.
Though the shelter-in-place order was lifted, the sheriff’s office cautioned residents to be prepared because the fire was still burning.
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