COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Two firefighters were killed and a third was injured after they were ambushed while responding to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to follow and signup for notifications!
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said during a press conference that the fire on Canfield Mountain was intentionally set to draw firefighters into an ambush.
Here’s what to know about the June 29 attack.
Timeline of the incident
At 1:21 p.m., Kootenai County dispatchers received a call about a fire on the east side of Canfield Mountain. Firefighters from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue arrived on scene. By approximately 2:00 p.m., firefighters reported over the radio that they were being shot at.
A series of urgent radio calls followed, with first responders asking for immediate law enforcement backup as they came under heavy fire: “Everybody’s shot up here … send law enforcement now,” according to one dispatch.
Norris said, “We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush, and it was intentional. These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Law enforcement quickly locked down the area, searching the wooded terrain for the shooter. “We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” Norris told reporters at an afternoon press conference.
Law enforcement response
Nearly 300 law enforcement officers responded, including tactical teams, two helicopters with snipers and technical support from the FBI, Norris said during a press conference. Agencies from Idaho, Washington and Montana took part in the operation. A shelter-in-place order was issued for the area as police worked to locate the shooter in the rugged terrain.
During the response, officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect in the rugged, heavily wooded terrain. According to Norris, investigators used cellphone activation data, detecting a signal that remained in one location from 3:16 p.m. That signal led officers to a wooded area, where they found a man dead with a firearm nearby as the fire advanced toward the scene.
The suspect has been identified as Wess Roley, according to a law enforcement official speaking to the Associated Press. It is not yet clear if Roley died by police gunfire or suicide. The Idaho State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting, and the local coroner will determine the cause of death.
Fire complicates crime scene
The fire itself created challenges for both rescue and investigation efforts. Norris explained during the press conference that the fire was advancing rapidly toward the suspect’s body, forcing authorities to move the body quickly to preserve evidence. “As far as preservation of the scene, it’s not perfect in this particular situation, but it’s something that had to be done,” Norris said.
The fire, which grew to about 20 acres, also delayed firefighting efforts as law enforcement secured the area. “We weren’t able to put any resources on it because of the gunfire exchange,” Norris said.
Norris noted the investigation will continue when conditions allow and that more weapons may be found at the scene.
Aftermath
The two firefighters killed were from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. Their names have not been released. The third firefighter, also from Coeur d’Alene, remains hospitalized after surgery, CBS News reports.
A procession of fire and law enforcement vehicles accompanied the bodies of the fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health to the Spokane County Coroner’s office. Norris said peer support teams have been mobilized for both fire and law enforcement agencies. Officials asked the public to only donate to verified funds; details will be released via official channels.
Community and agency statements
During the press conference, Kootenai County Board Chairman Bruce Mattare praised the rapid and coordinated law enforcement response, stating, “The response was phenomenal. June 29, 2025, is a day that we will not forget in this community. It is the day evil showed his face and we lost two outstanding professionals of the highest quality.”
Governor Brad Little called the attack “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters” and asked Idahoans to pray for the victims and their families.
Norris said the incident is unlike anything the county has experienced and described the terrain as “daunting,” making it difficult for both officers and firefighters.
Officials confirmed that the shooter acted alone and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation is ongoing, with state police handling the officer-involved shooting review.
