Idaho Sniper Starts Fire, Slays 2 Firefighters in Ambush

They rushed toward smoke - just like they had countless times before. But this time, something felt different. Moments after arriving, they were running for cover. What started as a routine fire call turned into one of the most shocking and tragic ambushes in Idaho history.

A Routine Call Turns Deadly

On June 29, emergency responders were dispatched to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain, just outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. For the seasoned firefighters from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, it was familiar terrain. They had tackled similar fires there many times before. But this one wasn’t like the others.

Roughly 30 minutes after arriving, firefighters radioed a chilling message - they were under fire.

Gunfire.

According to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, the fire had been set intentionally, a sinister lure designed to draw first responders into a trap.

The Suspect and the Scene

The alleged gunman, 20-year-old Wess Roley, reportedly concealed himself in the wooded terrain and used a high-powered rifle to fire on the firefighters. Two responders, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, were killed in the attack. A third was wounded and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Authorities said Roley had previously been the subject of law enforcement welfare checks but had no known criminal history. He was found dead by suicide hours later on the mountain, a weapon nearby. His motive is still unknown, though officials noted he once expressed interest in becoming a firefighter.

Community in Mourning

Both victims were longtime firefighters - Harwood had 17 years of service. Their deaths have left a deep scar on a tight-knit community. A procession of emergency vehicles honored the fallen as their bodies were transported to the hospital. Kootenai County Commissioner Bruce Mattare called it “a day evil showed his face,” according to NBC News.

Moving forward, law enforcement will accompany firefighters on calls to ensure their safety. While the fire has since been contained, the investigation into what led to this devastating ambush is just beginning.

References: 2 Idaho firefighters killed after gunman started blaze to lure them into an ambush, authorities say | Suspect identified in the fatal ambush of 2 firefighters in Idaho | Wess Roley, alleged sniper accused of setting Idaho fire before killing two firefighters, ID’d in eerie photo | Idaho authorities identify 2 firefighters killed in Sunday ambush