In the quiet timber above Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a grim chapter was written Sunday when an act of violence shattered the courage and calm resolve of those sworn to protect us. A lone gunman—now found dead by a SWAT team on Canfield Mountain—ambushed firefighters as they battled a wildfire, killing two and wounding a third who now fights to heal.
Authorities believe this single assailant deliberately set the fire to lure first responders into harm’s way, then struck without warning. Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris spoke plainly: “This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance.”
Hundreds of law enforcement officers and federal agents raced against time and danger, combing the rugged terrain to find the gunman and bring an end to the threat. By nightfall, the suspect lay dead beside his firearm, a tragic end to a day marked by unimaginable loss.
The men who fell did so performing a duty most take for granted—standing on the thin line that keeps communities safe from disaster. Firefighters and first responders willingly face flames, floods, and peril to guard the lives of strangers. Sunday’s horror reminds us, with painful clarity, how sacred and selfless that calling truly is.
Idaho Governor Brad Little spoke for many when he called this ambush a “heinous direct assault” on heroes who should never be targets. His words echo the sorrow and outrage now felt across Idaho and beyond.
Tonight, we mourn with the families left behind, praying they find strength in the legacy of bravery these men leave behind. May we never forget that every alarm answered, every fire fought, is an act of quiet heroism—paid for, sometimes, at the highest cost.
