Idaho wildfire ambush: SWAT team locate suspect’s body after firefighters ‘lured’ to death in Coeur D’ Alene

A manhunt involving all available local police, SWAT teams and the FBI has discovered a man’s body after a shooting ambush killed two firefighters and left several others seriously injured in the US.

The suspected shooter’s body was found in the Canfield Mountain range in Idaho, lying next to a firearm authorities believe was used to attack several crews of unarmed firefighters after they were lured to the site to fight a blaze they claim was deliberately lit.

Officers from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s department have not released the suspects name or the kind of firearm used, but they announced they are willing to lift the public safety alert for an active shooter.

“This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain. A firearm was found nearby,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

“At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain. Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken.”

The two firefighters were killed, and local authorities reported additional injuries after an unknown number of gunmen opened fire on emergency crews arriving to battle the bushfire near the town of Coeur d’Alene

The local sheriff’s department in Coeur d’Alene released a statement saying there is an ongoing standoff between law enforcement officers and the shooter, or shooters, suspected of the ambush, which was confirmed in a chilling radio call between dispatch officers and the firefighters who were under attack.

“We now have two deaths. We have an unknown number of casualties. We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain ... We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” Sheriff Robert Norris told local news reporters.

The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.

They were in a spot “with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings,” Mr Norris added.

Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene.

“FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support,” FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X.

“It remains an active, and very dangerous scene.”

Fire crews arrived on the scene and spoke calmly to their dispatch via radio about plans to fight the fire before being ambushed and raising desperate calls for police to attend as they were “taking fire”.

“Send law enforcement right now, there’s an active shooter zone, they’re shot, BC1’s down, BC3’s down ... Everybody’s shot up here,” the firefighter screamed through the radio.

“Law enforcement, Code three now up here. We have another firefighter down, and we need law enforcement up here. We need law enforcement,” another firefighter told the radio base.

Calls went out to fire crews who were moving toward the fire not to attend and to stay away as the shooter continued on their rampage.

“They shot us with shotguns. We’ve got two battalion chiefs down with multiple gunshot wounds,” one fireman reported.

“I am pinned down and it is clear to me this fire was set intentionally to draw us in.

“This is an active shooter situation up here.

“I have no idea where the shooter’s at or where they’re going or what direction.

“I would recommend that all our fire units escape further down towards town,” the firefighter warned across radio channels.

Governor Brad Little said on X that multiple firefighters were fired upon while responding to a blaze on Sunday in Kootenai County near Coeur d’Alene..

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said.

“I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”

— with AAP.