2 died in Idaho after firefighters were ambushed by shots when responding to Blaze: Sheriff

Two people were killed after firefighters were ambushed by an armed man, or many armed people, when responding to a brush fire at Coeur D’alee, Idaho, said officials.

Sheriff of Kootteni Regency, Robert Norris, said in a press briefing that the number of others injured in the attack and the ongoing fire was unknown.

Two deaths are believed to be fire personnel, said Norris.

Deputy Director of FBI and Bongino said the situation remained “active and very dangerous” in renewal on Sunday night.

“The FBI technical team and tactical assets are currently at the scene of giving support,” Bongino said.

The incident took place around 1:30 noon local time after a small brush fire but continued to grow in Canfield Mountain on Sunday afternoon.

When firefighters responded to the flames about half an hour later, they began to be shot by unknown people, or people, in the forest, officials said.

Norris said that the situation remained active and that the authorities were currently taking fire from various directions on the mountain.

Civilians also descended from the mountain and could be trapped in the midst of the flames, said Norris.

Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire can be deliberately determined to lure the first respondent to the scene, said Lieutenant Sheriff Kounteni Kouotenai, Jeff Howard, told ABC News.

The search for suspects is ongoing, law enforcement officers gave a briefing about an investigation to ABC News. The police helicopter was flying over the head in the area to try and find suspects from the air, officials said.

Landing the helicopter to help on the ground become more difficult in the mountains because the shooter is still free, officials added.

This scene is considered as an active shooter situation and the sequence of protection in place has been issued for Canfield Mountain Trailhead and the surrounding area.

The FBI helped the authorities in Kootteni Regency, an agency spokesman told ABC News.

Governor Idaho Brad Little called the incident as “a cruel direct attack on our brave firefighters.”

“Some heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to fires in North Idaho,” Little wrote in A Post on x. “I ask everyone Idaho to pray for them and their families while we wait to study more,” he added.

Secretary of the Department of Domestic Security Kristi Noem has been given a briefing about the shooting, a DHS official told ABC News.

ABC News’ Tristan Maglunog, Luke Barr and Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.