While extinguishing a fire in the mountainous region of Idaho (USA), an unknown person opened fire on rescuers.
On Sunday, June 29, rescuers were putting out a fire in the mountains of the American state of Idaho when they were shot at with a sniper rifle. Two firefighters were killed and there are casualties.
The New York Times writes about this.
What happened
SWAT teams found the suspect's body on the mountain with a gun nearby Sunday night. The sheriff's office said it was lifting a stay-at-home order issued earlier in the day when emergency workers came under fire and officials evacuated a popular tourist area near Coeur d'Allen.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the victim's identity, but have scheduled a news conference for late Sunday. The Kootenai sheriff has previously raised the possibility that there was more than one shooter. But late Sunday, Bruce Mattare, chairman of the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners, said authorities were “awaiting confirmation” that the attack was carried out by one person.
The forest fire was apparently set to lure firefighters into a trap. When the shooting first broke out, they pleaded for help after two people were shot. They were reportedly hiding behind a fire engine.
Kim Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Kootenai Health hospital system, said in addition to the two dead, another person was taken with injuries sustained in the shooting. She had no information on that person's condition, but the International Association of Fire Fighters said one firefighter was in surgery.
Graham Christensen, former president of the Lake City Trail Alliance, said the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department regularly cleared brush and suppressed fires there and that he was not aware of any natural wildfires there in the past two decades. He said the attack came as a shock because the area had always been so safe.
“Everyone feels comfortable there,” he said.
Brian Gedley was riding the dirt roads around Canfield Mountain on Sunday to practice for a mountain bike race when a neighbor called him around 1:35 p.m. with news of a fire. Gedley returned and, as he was descending the mountain, heard three gunshots in quick succession. When he reached the parking lot at the base of the mountain, officers ordered him to leave the area.
“It's heartbreaking,” he said of the shooting.
He said he could still see smoke from the fire billowing above his roof Sunday evening — an alarming sight as recent dry conditions have increased the danger of wildfires in northern Idaho.
The FBI confirmed they were on scene assisting local authorities. Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack on social media.
“This is a horrific direct attack on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to keep them and their families in your prayers as we wait for more information,” he said.
Authorities said the threat of gunfire had hampered their efforts to fight the fire. The county said it would “mobilize everything possible” and issue a state of emergency declaration to find additional resources.
Recall that on Thursday, May 22, security guards opened fire on an unknown person who was at the gates of the CIA headquarters near Washington. She was subsequently detained.
He said security personnel “engaged in negotiations with a person” at the main gate. A source familiar with the matter said the suspect was a woman.
The speaker declined to disclose any other details of the incident other than to say that the person detained is now in custody.
