Two firefighters shot dead in sniper ambush in Idaho

Two firefighters have been killed and another wounded after they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in the US state of Idaho.

Officers later found the body of a man with a firearm nearby after they said they were "taking sniper fire" near the city of Coeur d'Alene on Sunday afternoon, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said.

Crews were responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain around 1.30pm and gunshots were reported around half an hour later, the force said.

Sheriff Bob Norris said the gunman had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders.

Initially it was unclear how many perpetrators were involved.

The man was described as being in an area with "heavy brush" and "well prepared and blending in with their surroundings".

Sheriff Norris said he instructed his deputies to fire back.

"I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralise, because they're not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender," he said.

First responders could be heard making urgent calls for help on their radios: "Everybody's shot up here... send law enforcement now," according to one dispatch.

Police are investigating whether the fire was set intentionally to lure first responders to the scene, Jeff Howard from the sheriff's office told ABC News.

Governor Brad Little said "multiple" firefighters were attacked.

"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," he said on X. "I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."

The president of the International Association of Firefighters said a third firefighter was in surgery.

Edward Kelly said on social media that firefighters were "ambushed in a heinous act of violence", adding: "Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery."

The sheriff's office in neighbouring Shoshone County said authorities were "dealing with an active shooter situation where the shooter is still at large".

Later, the sheriff's office said members of a "SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain", adding that a "firearm was found nearby".

The fire was still raging, Mr Norris said earlier. "It's going to keep burning," he added. "Can't put any resources on it right now."

The FBI sent technical teams and tactical support to the scene, its deputy director Dan Bongino said.

The Idaho House Republican Leadership said in a statement: "We are horrified by the murder of two firefighters in Coeur d'Alene, and shocked by such a vicious attack on our first responders. We are praying for them, the injured, their families and their colleagues."

Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking spot on the outskirts of Coeur d'Alene, a city of around 55,000 people in northern Idaho.

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