30/06/2025
****BREAKING ****
ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION IN NORTHERN IDAHO
On June 29, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded near Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where a shooter or shooters ambushed firefighters and law enforcement responding to a brush fire, suspected to have been intentionally set to lure first responders.
The incident occurred on Canfield Mountain, near East Nettleton Gulch Road, approximately 4 miles north of downtown Coeur d’Alene. Firefighters responded to a half-acre brush fire, named the Nettleton Gulch Fire, at around 1:21 p.m. local time. Gunfire was reported shortly after, around 2:00 p.m. At least two people, believed to be fire personnel, were killed, and multiple others were injured. The exact number of injuries remains unclear, with reports indicating ongoing sniper fire complicating rescue and firefighting efforts.
Authorities, including Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, suspect the fire was deliberately set to draw first responders into an ambush. A firefighter noted in emergency scanner audio that the fire appeared intentionally set for this purpose. As of the latest reports, the identity of the shooter or shooters remains unknown. Sheriff Norris indicated uncertainty about whether there is a single suspect or multiple individuals involved, as gunfire was reported coming from multiple directions. The shooter(s) used high-powered, modern sporting rifles, described as capable of rapid fire. The ongoing sniper activity suggests a level of tactical preparation.
The shooter(s) remain at large, with active sniper fire reported well into the afternoon of June 29, 2025. Law enforcement has not made any arrests, and the suspect(s) are believed to be blending into the mountainous, wooded terrain of Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking and biking area covered with trees and heavy brush. No specific motive has been confirmed. The intentional setting of the fire to lure responders suggests premeditation, but no ideological or personal reasons have been publicly disclosed.
Multiple agencies, including the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, and law enforcement from neighboring Spokane, Washington, and Shoshone County, are responding. The FBI is providing tactical and operational support, with Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirming federal assets are on the scene. Sheriff Norris emphasized the active threat, stating, “We are actively taking fire sniper as we speak,” and expressed hope that law enforcement could “neutralize the threat” if a clear shot was available. He noted the challenge of civilians still on the mountain, potentially stuck or in shock, complicating Operations.
Fire suppression was halted due to the ongoing gunfire, allowing the brush fire to continue burning. The fire remains less than an acre but is uncontained due to the inability to deploy resources safely.
Kootenai County Emergency Management issued a shelter-in-place order for areas around Canfield Mountain Trailhead, Nettleton Gulch Road, and later expanded it to include areas south of Hayden Lake Road and east of 15th Street. Residents were urged to avoid the area entirely.
Emergency crews are staged at Kootenai Health, with at least one medical helicopter deployed. Life Flight Network sent three helicopters from Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint, but no patients had been transported as of the latest updates, likely due to the active shooter situation.
Governor Brad Little called the attack a “heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” urging residents to pray for the victims and their families and to stay clear of the area to allow responders to work. He and his wife, Teresa, expressed heartbreak over the incident.
Northern Lakes Fire Chief Pat Riley expressed being “completely heartbroken,” noting that while firefighters train for such scenarios, seeing it in their community was devastating. He emphasized that firefighters remain focused on their duties despite the tragedy.
Please pray for the safety of all LEO and citizens in the area and for a swift resolution.
