Two shot dead as firefighters respond to blaze in Idaho

Reuters

A shooting near a brush fire outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, left two people dead and forced an FBI response, as authorities search for suspects and urge residents to avoid the area.

At least two people have been fatally shot while responding to a brush fire near Coeur d’Alene, in the western U.S. state of Idaho.

Authorities say at least one suspect was firing a high-powered rifle at law enforcement in the area. The FBI has deployed agents to provide tactical and operational support.

Officials believe the victims were firefighters, though details about the number of suspects and additional casualties remain unclear.

An emergency alert from Kootenai County urged the public to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 6.5 kilometres north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The city, home to around 55,000 residents, lies near the Washington state border. Canfield Mountain, a wooded area known for its hiking and biking trails, is located on the city’s outskirts.

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