One or more snipers attacked the rescue service in connection with the extinguishing of a wildfire in a mountainous area outside the city of Coeur d’Alene on Sunday local time. The police, who were called to the scene, were also shot at during the several-hour-long operation that followed.
The two killed were firefighters, according to a representative of the Republican Party. Several people are also reported to have been injured, and at least one firefighter is being treated in hospital after the attack, reports CNN with reference to a trade union.
After a large police effort, a suspected perpetrator was found dead, reports ABC. The person had a weapon next to them.
The area is a popular outdoor area and several people were estimated to be in the vicinity of both the fire and the sometimes intense gunfire.
We do not know how many suspects are up there, and we do not know how many fatalities there are, said Sheriff Bob Norris to the news agency AP during the operation.
Norris gave his colleagues the order to immediately neutralize the shooter if the opportunity arose.
I hope that someone who has a good shooting position can neutralize them because they are currently showing no signs of wanting to give up.
The police are investigating whether the wildfire was started intentionally, with the aim of luring the rescue service to the scene for an ambush.
