Two firefighters have been killed and a third wounded after a man allegedly set a fire and then ambushed emergency crews, opening fire on them, authorities in the U.S. state of Idaho announced.
The assailant, whom investigators stated acted alone, opened fire after fire crews arrived to extinguish a blaze that erupted on Canfield Mountain. Police reported that the man was found dead in a wooded area after a multi-hour exchange of gunfire.
“We believe the suspect set the fire. It was an ambush, and the firefighters had no chance,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, adding that the attacker used a rifle.
More than 300 police personnel responded to the scene of the attack, including two helicopters with snipers.
