On Sunday, June 29, 2025, a 20-year-old gunman, later identified as Wess Roley, deliberately set a brush fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. His intention: to lure in and ambush responding firefighters. Upon arrival around 2 p.m., the first responders were met with sniper fire—a calculated and deadly trap (thedailybeast.com).
- Tragic toll: Two firefighters — one from Coeur d’Alene and one from Kootenai County — were killed instantly. A third was critically injured, underwent surgery, and remains in stable condition (thedailybeast.com).
- Swift law enforcement response: A 300-person manhunt, involving SWAT, FBI, and tactical teams, tracked the shooter via a cellphone ping. His body—and a rifle—were found late Sunday (thedailybeast.com). Investigators are still determining if he took his own life.
- Fire spreads: The blaze, now called the Nettleton Gulch fire, burned 15–26 acres, complicating both firefighting and investigation efforts (wsj.com).
- Official response: Idaho Governor Brad Little ordered flags to half-staff, condemning it as a “heinous direct assault” and urging prayers for the families (wsj.com). The International Association of Fire Fighters expressed solidarity with “prayers for those affected” (thedailybeast.com).
🕵️‍♂️ What’s Next?
- Motive under investigation: Authorities are probing why Roley targeted first responders and whether he made the 911 call reporting the fire (people.com).
- Wildfire containment efforts: With the shooter neutralized, fire crews are now working to control the blaze across rugged terrain.
- Community impact: A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, but authorities advise residents to “remain alert,” and flags are lowered in tribute (en.wikipedia.org).
Let this serve as both a somber remembrance of heroic firefighters ambushed in the line of duty and a cautionary update on the evolving investigation and wildfire status.
