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27 June 2025
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Two firefighters killed, another injured in ambush in Idaho, shot at while responding to wildfire, US
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An intentionally set brush fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was used to ambush first responders, leaving two firefighters dead, a third critically wounded and the 20-year-old gunman dead after a five-hour manhunt on Sunday, 29 June 2025. More than 300 local, state and federal officers converged on the mountain; investigators say Wess Roley fired 12-gauge shotgun slugs at the first-arriving crews before fatally shooting himself. Two firefighters were killed while another was injured during the shooting. The deceased were identified as Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.
Harwood was a 17-year fire service veteran and also served in the Army National Guard, while Morrison had over 28 years of experience in fire service.
The injured firefighter, Engineer David Tysdal, 47, had two surgeries and was listed in stable but guarded condition on the evening of June 30.
Both Harwood and Morrison were pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire and emergency medical support
Because the first-arriving engines "came under fire almost immediately" and were forced to take cover, direct suppression was suspended until the slope was declared safe later that evening. Once law-enforcement lifted the security hold (about 19h30), the Idaho Department of Lands ordered extra hand crews, engines, heavy equipment and aircraft to reinforce the overnight attack on the Nettleton Gulch fire.
Air-medical cover was provided by Life Flight Network, which staged a helicopter at Kootenai Health and positioned additional aircraft at a temporary landing zone on US Route 95; numerous ground ambulances from neighbouring jurisdictions also mustered near the command post in case of further casualties.
The deliberately-lit Nettleton Gulch Fire grew to about 26 acres (11ha) of steep timber and as of 30 June 2025, the Idaho Department of Lands reported hand lines around roughly two-thirds of the west flank, with no formal containment percentage yet posted. Officials have not established a motive, calling the attack "a total ambush" on first responders; the incident has renewed national attention on the rising number of targeted assaults against US firefighters and paramedics.
Attack
At 13h21 PDT on 29 June 2025, Kootenai County dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call reporting a brush fire in Nettleton Gulch on the west flank of Canfield Mountain; it was accordingly given the name Nettleton Gulch fire.
At around 14h00, the first engine companies, drawn from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Northern Lakes Fire District, arrived on scene and promptly came under gunfire. Firefighters radioed that multiple shots were being fired and took cover behind their apparatus, temporarily suspending suppression efforts.
Witness statements released at a June 30 briefing indicate that Roley spoke briefly with the first-arriving firefighters, who had asked him to move his vehicle. Investigators believe Roley used a flint starter to ignite the brush and "deliberately lured" the firefighters into a kill zone on the mountain's western slope. Investigators believe Roley used his arborist climbing skills, perching in a tree to gain an elevated line of fire before shooting slugs.
At 15h16 detectives traced a ping from Roley's mobile telephone on the upper mountain, allowing SWAT units and air assets to tighten the search perimeter. Between 16h05 and 16h30 county officials issued a shelter-in-place order for neighbourhoods east of downtown Coeur d'Alene, warning residents to remain indoors while the gunman was at large. Police scanner traffic during the afternoon suggested that deputies had located a vehicle believed to be linked to the attack.
At 19h40 SWAT officers found Roley dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in dense timber near the fireline; a firearm was recovered beside the body. Sheriff Norris stated that evidence indicated Roley had set the fire specifically to ambush first responders and that he had acted alone.
With the crime scene secured, Idaho Department of Lands crews hiked in between 19h30 and 22h00 and began cutting a hand-line around what was now a 15 to 20 acres (6.1 to 8.1ha) fire. Overnight the blaze grew to cover about 26 acres (11ha) of steep, timbered ground, leaving a visible smoke haze over Coeur d'Alene the following morning.
Responses
More than a dozen public-safety agencies converged on Canfield Mountain within the first two hours of the incident.
Aftermath
A temporary no-fly zone for unauthorised aircraft and drones was declared over Canfield Mountain within hours of the ambush.
More than 300 law-enforcement officers—local, state and federal—were ultimately mobilized for the response and evidence-recovery effort. Specialists from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stayed on scene overnight to document ballistics evidence, while the Idaho Department of Lands resumed suppression once the mountain was declared safe.
Because ground crews had been pinned down for several hours, the Nettleton Gulch Fire grew to roughly 26 acres (11 ha) of steep, timbered terrain by the morning of June 30. IDL reported preliminary hand-lines around the perimeter but no formal containment figure and urged residents to remain ready to evacuate should winds shift.
That evening a miles-long procession carried the two fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health Hospital to the Spokane County Medical Examiner; residents lined freeway overpasses waving US and Idaho flags or saluting as the convoy passed. A second, larger procession was scheduled for the morning of July 1 to return Harwood and Morrison from the Spokane County Medical Examiner to Coeur d'Alene; the motorcade was set to depart at 10h00am, travel eastbound on I-90 and enter the city via Sherman Avenue.
Governor Brad Little ordered all US and Idaho flags to be flown at half-staff until the day after the firefighters' memorial service. During debate on an unrelated spending bill, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch led a moment of silence in the US Senate, while the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) called the ambush "a heinous act of violence" and dispatched peer-support teams to Coeur d'Alene.
Local churches opened for counselling sessions, and regional critical-incident stress-management teams offered free debriefings to first-responder agencies. Community members also launched several crowd-funding pages to help the families of the slain and injured firefighters.
Perpetrator
A day after the shooting, authorities identified the gunman as 20-year-old Wess Val Roley (May 1, 2005 – June 29, 2025), a California native who had recently been living in Idaho. Sheriff Robert Norris said Roley appeared to have shot himself with a shotgun recovered beside his body.
According to Norris, Roley had five prior minor contacts with law enforcement, mostly trespass calls and welfare checks, and had no criminal record. Investigators have not found any writings or signs of ideological motive.
Public records show that Roley previously lived in both California and Phoenix, Arizona before moving to Coeur d'Alene in 2023. His grandfather, Dale Roley, told reporters that the family are long-time arborists and that Wess "wanted to be a fireman ... working in the forest." Dale Roley added that his grandson owned a shotgun and a .22-calibre rifle and investigators have confirmed a shotgun was used in the attack but have not ruled out additional firearms.
Detectives found Roley's heavily-packed pickup truck in an embankment near the fire line and believe he had been living out of the vehicle in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Investigators also believe Roley used a flint-starter to ignite the brush, deliberately luring firefighters into a "kill zone."
During a news conference on June 30, authorities displayed a screenshot from what they said was Roley's now-deleted Instagram story, showing him in dark camouflage and a mask with Björk's song "Hunter" playing in the background.
As of 30 June 2025, detectives had not established a motive and said the investigation into Roley's background and possible intent was ongoing.
Investigation
The motive "remains under active investigation" by the Sheriff's Office. Detectives were analysing the shooter's digital devices, interviewing family members and reviewing gun-purchase records provided by the ATF. The FBI appealed for video captured on Canfield Mountain between 12h30pm and 14h30. Detectives are processing Roley's pickup truck, which was forced off a forest road during the search and analysing data from his deleted social media accounts.
Sources: Numerous
Harwood was a 17-year fire service veteran and also served in the Army National Guard, while Morrison had over 28 years of experience in fire service.
The injured firefighter, Engineer David Tysdal, 47, had two surgeries and was listed in stable but guarded condition on the evening of June 30.
Both Harwood and Morrison were pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire and emergency medical support
Because the first-arriving engines "came under fire almost immediately" and were forced to take cover, direct suppression was suspended until the slope was declared safe later that evening. Once law-enforcement lifted the security hold (about 19h30), the Idaho Department of Lands ordered extra hand crews, engines, heavy equipment and aircraft to reinforce the overnight attack on the Nettleton Gulch fire.
Air-medical cover was provided by Life Flight Network, which staged a helicopter at Kootenai Health and positioned additional aircraft at a temporary landing zone on US Route 95; numerous ground ambulances from neighbouring jurisdictions also mustered near the command post in case of further casualties.
The deliberately-lit Nettleton Gulch Fire grew to about 26 acres (11ha) of steep timber and as of 30 June 2025, the Idaho Department of Lands reported hand lines around roughly two-thirds of the west flank, with no formal containment percentage yet posted. Officials have not established a motive, calling the attack "a total ambush" on first responders; the incident has renewed national attention on the rising number of targeted assaults against US firefighters and paramedics.
Attack
At 13h21 PDT on 29 June 2025, Kootenai County dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call reporting a brush fire in Nettleton Gulch on the west flank of Canfield Mountain; it was accordingly given the name Nettleton Gulch fire.
At around 14h00, the first engine companies, drawn from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Northern Lakes Fire District, arrived on scene and promptly came under gunfire. Firefighters radioed that multiple shots were being fired and took cover behind their apparatus, temporarily suspending suppression efforts.
Witness statements released at a June 30 briefing indicate that Roley spoke briefly with the first-arriving firefighters, who had asked him to move his vehicle. Investigators believe Roley used a flint starter to ignite the brush and "deliberately lured" the firefighters into a kill zone on the mountain's western slope. Investigators believe Roley used his arborist climbing skills, perching in a tree to gain an elevated line of fire before shooting slugs.
At 15h16 detectives traced a ping from Roley's mobile telephone on the upper mountain, allowing SWAT units and air assets to tighten the search perimeter. Between 16h05 and 16h30 county officials issued a shelter-in-place order for neighbourhoods east of downtown Coeur d'Alene, warning residents to remain indoors while the gunman was at large. Police scanner traffic during the afternoon suggested that deputies had located a vehicle believed to be linked to the attack.
At 19h40 SWAT officers found Roley dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in dense timber near the fireline; a firearm was recovered beside the body. Sheriff Norris stated that evidence indicated Roley had set the fire specifically to ambush first responders and that he had acted alone.
With the crime scene secured, Idaho Department of Lands crews hiked in between 19h30 and 22h00 and began cutting a hand-line around what was now a 15 to 20 acres (6.1 to 8.1ha) fire. Overnight the blaze grew to cover about 26 acres (11ha) of steep, timbered ground, leaving a visible smoke haze over Coeur d'Alene the following morning.
Responses
More than a dozen public-safety agencies converged on Canfield Mountain within the first two hours of the incident.
- The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office served as incident command, supported by the Idaho State Police, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department and neighbouring police and sheriff's offices from Spokane, Shoshone, and Bonner counties.
- The FBI deployed crisis-negotiation specialists, evidence-response technicians and aerial-surveillance assets from its Spokane Resident Agency.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Seattle Field Division sent ballistics experts and certified fire investigators to examine the crime scene and the point of fire origin.
- Air support included a US Customs and Border Protection Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter equipped with FLIR, two Spokane County Sheriff's helicopters and at least one armoured rescue vehicle from the region's multijurisdictional SWAT team.
- At a June 30 briefing, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said local police would accompany fire and EMS crews on every call "for at least the next several days," to bolster responder safety.
Aftermath
A temporary no-fly zone for unauthorised aircraft and drones was declared over Canfield Mountain within hours of the ambush.
More than 300 law-enforcement officers—local, state and federal—were ultimately mobilized for the response and evidence-recovery effort. Specialists from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stayed on scene overnight to document ballistics evidence, while the Idaho Department of Lands resumed suppression once the mountain was declared safe.
Because ground crews had been pinned down for several hours, the Nettleton Gulch Fire grew to roughly 26 acres (11 ha) of steep, timbered terrain by the morning of June 30. IDL reported preliminary hand-lines around the perimeter but no formal containment figure and urged residents to remain ready to evacuate should winds shift.
That evening a miles-long procession carried the two fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health Hospital to the Spokane County Medical Examiner; residents lined freeway overpasses waving US and Idaho flags or saluting as the convoy passed. A second, larger procession was scheduled for the morning of July 1 to return Harwood and Morrison from the Spokane County Medical Examiner to Coeur d'Alene; the motorcade was set to depart at 10h00am, travel eastbound on I-90 and enter the city via Sherman Avenue.
Governor Brad Little ordered all US and Idaho flags to be flown at half-staff until the day after the firefighters' memorial service. During debate on an unrelated spending bill, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch led a moment of silence in the US Senate, while the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) called the ambush "a heinous act of violence" and dispatched peer-support teams to Coeur d'Alene.
Local churches opened for counselling sessions, and regional critical-incident stress-management teams offered free debriefings to first-responder agencies. Community members also launched several crowd-funding pages to help the families of the slain and injured firefighters.
Perpetrator
A day after the shooting, authorities identified the gunman as 20-year-old Wess Val Roley (May 1, 2005 – June 29, 2025), a California native who had recently been living in Idaho. Sheriff Robert Norris said Roley appeared to have shot himself with a shotgun recovered beside his body.
According to Norris, Roley had five prior minor contacts with law enforcement, mostly trespass calls and welfare checks, and had no criminal record. Investigators have not found any writings or signs of ideological motive.
Public records show that Roley previously lived in both California and Phoenix, Arizona before moving to Coeur d'Alene in 2023. His grandfather, Dale Roley, told reporters that the family are long-time arborists and that Wess "wanted to be a fireman ... working in the forest." Dale Roley added that his grandson owned a shotgun and a .22-calibre rifle and investigators have confirmed a shotgun was used in the attack but have not ruled out additional firearms.
Detectives found Roley's heavily-packed pickup truck in an embankment near the fire line and believe he had been living out of the vehicle in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Investigators also believe Roley used a flint-starter to ignite the brush, deliberately luring firefighters into a "kill zone."
During a news conference on June 30, authorities displayed a screenshot from what they said was Roley's now-deleted Instagram story, showing him in dark camouflage and a mask with Björk's song "Hunter" playing in the background.
As of 30 June 2025, detectives had not established a motive and said the investigation into Roley's background and possible intent was ongoing.
Investigation
The motive "remains under active investigation" by the Sheriff's Office. Detectives were analysing the shooter's digital devices, interviewing family members and reviewing gun-purchase records provided by the ATF. The FBI appealed for video captured on Canfield Mountain between 12h30pm and 14h30. Detectives are processing Roley's pickup truck, which was forced off a forest road during the search and analysing data from his deleted social media accounts.
Sources: Numerous
