'Everybody's shot up here!' Watch as gunman shoots firefighters after setting blaze to 'lure' them in * WorldNetDaily * by Joe Kovacs

www.wnd.com

Numerous firefighters and police officers in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, have been shot and killed in an apparent ambush Sunday, with someone intentionally setting a blaze to lure the first responders to the hotspot to be fired upon.

The sniper has since been found dead with a weapon nearby. The shelter in place was lifted, but officials say an active wildfire is still burning on Canfield Mountain.

The International Association of Fire Fighters confirmed the two victims who were killed were firefighters.

“While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery,” the association said. “Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.”

The frantic radio call

“Send law enforcement now! There’s an active shooter zone!” shouted one firefighter pleading for help on his radio.

“Everybody’s shot up here! Law enforcement! Code 3 now up here!”

“We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.

“We still have civilians coming off of that mountain. We might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain. So this is a very, very fresh situation.”

“It is going to be a tough next couple of hours, absolutely,” Norris added. “I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot, and is able to neutralize. Because they are not, at this point in time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender. So as soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot, neutralize the threat.”

“We believe that there was only one shooter,” Norris said later. “We believe the suspect started the fire … and it was intentional.”

“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance.”

“FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d’Alene to provide tactical and operational support, said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. “It is an active scene.”

“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho,” said Gov. Brad Little.

“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken.”

“As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs.”

NBC affiliate KHQ in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, reports: “Police and emergency crews are responding to an active shooter situation, where multiple firefighters were reportedly shot.

“Kootenai County Deputies are asking residents to avoid the area. According to Northern Lakes Fire Protection Chief Pat Riley, firefighters were reportedly shot while responding to a brush fire in the area of East Nettleton Gulch Road.

“According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, there is an active shooter situation at Canfield Mountain. Injuries have been reported, but the extent is unknown. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.

“Fire crews were forced to pull back, and the brush fire remains an active threat. Authorities urge residents nearby to remain cautious and alert, as the situation is still unfolding.”

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News that “when fire personnel responded to the blaze, they started getting shot at by an unknown person in the woods.”

“Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Howard added.”

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