Idaho shooting: two dead after gunman ambushed firefighters responding to blaze

Police find body of suspect, who they said started the fire intentionally to ambush first responders

A procession from Kootenai Health headed to Spokane after two firefighters were killed Sunday, when they were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in northern Idaho. Picture: Bill Buley/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP

A man armed with a rifle intentionally started a wildfire and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain community, killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.

A shelter-in-place order was lifted Sunday night after a tactical response team used mobile phone data to “hone in” on a wooded area where they found the suspect’s body with a firearm nearby as flames rapidly approached, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said.