# Firefighters shot at in Coeur D’Alene, ID \[2025-06-29\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [June 30, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280 "2025-06-30T01:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/1 "2025-06-30T01:29:55Z")
> **[2 Dead as Firefighters Targeted in Shooting in Idaho, Officials Say](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/us/coeur-dalene-idaho-shooting-ambush.html)** > > Firefighters were responding to a fire near Coeur D’Alene when the shooting happened, a sheriff said. It was unclear how many might be wounded. NY Times link, not sure if it’s paywalled. _"At least two people were killed in Idaho on Sunday afternoon after firefighters were ambushed in a sniper attack as they responded to a fire call in a rugged mountain area, the authorities said._ _Law enforcement agencies near Coeur d’Alene scrambled to evacuate the area — popular for weekend hikers — while trying to subdue what might be multiple attackers who were still firing shots at emergency workers._ _“We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” said Sheriff Robert Norris of Kootenai County in an afternoon news conference around 4:30 p.m. He was unsure how many people had been hit by gunfire but that he believed the two people killed were firefighters."_ I don’t know much about Idaho. There’s Potatoes, crazy preppers, and the poor refugees from South Africa 🙄 What the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/2 "2025-06-30T01:32:54Z")
[Here is a non-paywalled articl on Yahoo.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/firefighters-ambushed-gunman-while-responding-225000003.html) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/3 "2025-06-30T01:35:17Z")
New York Time article with paywall removed (gift link): > **[2 Dead as Firefighters Targeted in Shooting in Idaho, Officials Say](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/us/coeur-dalene-idaho-shooting-ambush.html?unlocked_article_code=1.S08.bnZf.1VzJrYEip0EA&smid=url-share)** > > Firefighters were responding to a fire near Coeur D’Alene when the shooting happened, a sheriff said. It was unclear how many might be wounded. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/4 "2025-06-30T01:36:06Z")
Just saw this elsewhere… Absolutely insane. Sounds like the shooters are still at large and still trying to ambush people. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/5 "2025-06-30T01:52:23Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I don’t know much about Idaho. There’s Potatoes, crazy preppers, and the poor refugees from South Africa 🙄 What the hell? CDA is a fine tourist town, beautiful and with some great resorts, but the rural areas around it are infested with white supremacist militias and similar types. The Aryan Nation headquarters used to be located nearby. I would bet very good money that some of those types are behind this. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/6 "2025-06-30T02:00:54Z")
NBC has a special report: > **[Special Report: Officials ‘actively taking sniper fire’ after multiple shot...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCeJKSag6WA%2F)** > > Authorities in Idaho are responding to an active shooter. Officials said two people were shot and killed after firefighters were ambushed on Canfield Mountai... ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/7 "2025-06-30T03:16:52Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > I would bet very good money that some of those types are behind this. The preferred approach on the Straight Dope is to wait for facts. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/8 "2025-06-30T03:31:33Z")
Haha, that’s a good one. I’m not stating it as a fact, but it would be my bet based on experience in Idaho. And the CDA area as a haven for white nationalists is a fact. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/9 "2025-06-30T03:40:10Z")
This is pretty much what went through my mind, mostly because of things my sister in northern Nevada has told me over the years. But still, what kind of reprobate shoots at firefighters? Was the fire set deliberately to bring the targets out? That still leaves their “backyard” on fire. What if the fire wasn’t deliberate; what do these assholes do in emergencies? Is firefighting one of the things they learn in Nutjob Terrorist School? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/10 "2025-06-30T03:46:08Z")
> **[Man found dead and lockdown lifted in Idaho after 2 firefighters killed, 1...](https://apnews.com/article/coeur-dalene-idaho-shooting-57e4143642c5a0e98d134051a7147a89)** > > Idaho authorities lift lockdown at scene of sniper attack near Coeur d’Alene after police find man dead on mountain with a firearm nearby. But I thought there were multiple snipers? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/11 "2025-06-30T05:57:06Z")
They didn’t know how many there were and assumed the worst for tactical reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/12 "2025-06-30T06:13:01Z")
First redneck: hey, why don’t we go start a wild fire, and then shoot the firemen? Second redneck: sure, that looks like fun. (pause) And after, you wouldn’t shoot me, to throw the police off your trail? First redneck: I would NEVER do that? What sort of person do you think I am? Second redneck: Right, sorry. Let’s do it! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/13 "2025-06-30T07:36:30Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They didn’t know how many there were and assumed the worst for tactical reasons. Especially if he was moving around. If you’re being shot at from two directions, it’s better to assume that there are two shooters. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/14 "2025-06-30T10:51:12Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Was the fire set deliberately to bring the targets out? That still leaves their “backyard” on fire. “I wouldn’t set a fire in my own back yard. What do you think I am, nuts?” I’m sure this has happened before, but it’s still such a crazy situation. I doubt those heavy firefighter clothes give much protection from gunfire. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/15 "2025-06-30T11:57:15Z")
CNN’s live updates tracker (not going to link because it won’t stay the same) is saying the murderer intentionally set the brush fire that drew firefighters to the scene. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/16 "2025-06-30T12:47:40Z")
Caught him by tracking his cell phone. How did that work? Somebody thought to see if there were any phones wandering around the mountainside? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/17 "2025-06-30T13:12:06Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Somebody thought to see if there were any phones wandering around the mountainside? That’s bog-standard police technique and has been for 20+ years. Push a few buttons and get a map of all the nearby cellphones. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/18 "2025-06-30T13:48:11Z")
I’m always darkly amused by the paranoid “the guv’ment is bad!” types forgetting they voluntarily put a GPS tracker in their pocket. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/19 "2025-06-30T13:51:08Z")
I’ve added a breaking news tag. Please treat this as a breaking news thread from now on. If you also want a place to speculate about political motives, etc , please start a second thread. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280/20 "2025-06-30T14:09:40Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I doubt those heavy firefighter clothes give much protection from gunfire. The ‘standard’ fire gear that you’re probably thinking of is designed for thermal protection. Probably about as good at stopping a bullet as what you’d wear on a frigid winter day, meaning it’ll take a _little bit_ of velocity off greater than if you were just wearing a t-shirt but nearly enough to stop a bullet, that’s also assuming it was zipped up (gear is heavy & hot, don’t necessarily need to be fully zipped up until you need it to be if you’re going in) & that it wasn’t a head shot. Woodland [fire gear](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15242469997_c2805aaf4c.jpg) is more like what one would wear to hike on a Spring/Fall day - long pants & long sleeves, a rescue helmet, which looks much like what a kayaker or rock climber may wear (okay, that random internet photo looks more like phone co helmets but still not a traditional fire helmet) & more like hiking boots as they potentially need to walk quite a distance to get into the fire & then doing lots of manual effort. A lot of what they do is to create fire breaks (rake/turn over the soil so there is no fuel for the fire to continue to burn) rather than pour tons & tons of water on it like happens with a building fire. Where I am (greater suburbia) a _large_ woods/field fire would be the exception; therefore, we don’t have specific gear for it but would fight it _without_ wearing our turnout coats as we don’t need the thermal protection on warmth on a summer day; in fact it would be dangerous as it would cause overheating. I don’t know anything about the specifics of what they wear/their policies at the dept in ID. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefighters-shot-at-in-coeur-d-alene-id-2025-06-29/1020280.md?page=2)