A sniper set up an ambush by lighting a brush fire and then killing two firefighters who came to deal with the blaze.
Fire crews responded to reports of a blaze in Canfield Mountain, Idaho, at around 1.30pm local time (8.30pm BST) yesterday (29 June) and gunshots were reported around half an hour later while they were surveying the fire.
Police said that somebody called the emergency services, but they cannot tell whether the person who called about the fire was the shooter or not.
The shooter is believed to have acted alone and hidden in nearby terrain to take shots at the firefighters using a high powered rifle, with a confrontation lasting for several hours.
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Approximately 300 police officers descended on the scene, including helicopters with snipers on board, all while the fire continued to burn.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said that two firefighters were shot dead and a third was 'fighting for his life' after being taken to hospital to undergo surgery.
"We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional," the sheriff said.
"These firefighters did not have a chance."
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A response team were able to use mobile phone data to pinpoint the shooter's location and found his body with a gun nearby. Authorities believe there was only one shooter and said it was not clear whether or not the sniper had shot himself.
NBC reports that the firefighters calls for help indicated that those caught in the sniper's line of sight warned their colleagues to move back to a safe distance.
"Two battalion chiefs down, two officers injured," one of the emergency responders had said over the radio.
“I have no idea where the shooters at or where they’re going, in which direction. I would recommend that our units, all of our firing units, escape further down the pavement towards town, maybe a half a mile or so to a safe staging area."
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"We’re going to need multiple ambulances for ALS care," the person radioed.
"As soon as we can get law enforcement in here to get these people out, I recommend we get no less than five, five ambulances staged at the bottom. I don’t care where we get them from."
The local area was given a 'shelter in place' warning which has since been lifted following the death of the sniper.
The fire started by the gunman continued to spread as the firefighters were caught in the ambush for several hours.
Investigators are looking into a possible motive.
Joe Harker