A devastating ambush in northern Idaho has left at least two firefighters dead and several others injured after they were shot while responding to a brush fire near Canfield Mountain, according to local reports. Authorities suspect the fire was deliberately set to lure first responders into a deadly trap, escalating what began as a routine emergency call into a mass casualty event. The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon around 2:47 p.m. local time near East Nettleton Gulch Road in Coeur d’Alene, when firefighters from the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District arrived to combat a small but growing brush fire. According to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard, the crews were immediately met with gunfire from an unknown assailant hiding in the wooded area. “When fire personnel responded to the blaze, they started getting shot at by an unknown person in the woods,” Howard told ABC News. Emergency scanner traffic captured the chaos, with reports indicating that at least two firefighters were fatally wounded and others were shot, some in the chest. Unconfirmed reports suggest up to 10 people, including firefighters and responding law enforcement officers, may have been injured. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office declared an active shooter situation and issued a shelter-in-place order for residents near Canfield Mountain Trailhead, later expanded to include areas south of Hayden Lake Road and east of 15th Street. Law enforcement agencies from across the region, including Spokane, Washington, have converged on the scene, with state police, specialized units, and armored vehicles deployed. Two Spokane County Sheriff’s helicopters are assisting in the search for the suspect, who remains at large. A possible suspect vehicle has been identified, but no arrests have been reported. The incident has prompted a massive response, with emergency crews staging at Kootenai Health and Cherry Hill Park. At least one medical helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the injured, and Spokane hospitals are on standby to receive patients. The Fernan Gun Club was evacuated after reports of a sniper in the area. The Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a 24-acre park with dense tree cover and hiking trails, has complicated the search for the gunman. As of Sunday evening, law enforcement are continuing its search for the gunman and are urging residents to stay vigilant and avoid the area. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)