Deliberate Fire, Deadly Trap: What We Know About the Idaho Ambush That Killed Two Firefighters
In one of the most shocking attacks on emergency responders in recent U.S. memory, two Idaho firefighters were killed and a third critically injured after being ambushed while responding to what initially appeared to be a routine wildfire call. The tragedy unfolded on June 29 on Canfield Mountain, just outside the city of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Fire crews arrived around 1:22 p.m. to battle a brush fire in the mountainous, wooded area. By 2:00 p.m., chilling radio transmissions revealed the horrifying truth firefighters were under sniper fire, and the blaze may have been intentionally set as bait.
Authorities later identified the shooter as 20-year-old Wess Roley, a local resident who had moved from Arizona in 2023. Roley opened fire with a .22 long rifle and a shotgun, striking three members of the firefighting team. Officials believe he may have sparked the fire to lure in first responders, describing the situation as a “deliberate ambush.” Cell phone signals and surveillance helped tactical teams locate Roley’s body near the original fire zone later that evening. He was found deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with both firearms nearby.
Little is known about Roley’s motive. Family members say he worked in tree-cutting and had once expressed interest in becoming a firefighter himself. His grandfather described him as a nature lover who enjoyed hunting and fishing, and said his behavior leading up to the shooting gave no obvious cause for concern. Some reports suggest that the initial confrontation may have started when firefighters asked Roley to move his vehicle, but investigators believe his actions were premeditated.
The two fallen firefighters 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. A third responder, Engineer Dave Tysdal, was critically wounded and remains hospitalized after undergoing two surgeries. The loss of Harwood and Morrison sent waves of grief through the community. Their remains were escorted in a solemn procession to Spokane, Washington, flanked by fellow firefighters and first responders.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris described the event as a “total ambush,” emphasizing that the firefighters had no chance to defend themselves. More than 300 law enforcement officers, including FBI agents and helicopter snipers, responded to the scene. Idaho Governor Brad Little called the act “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters” and urged citizens to support their grieving families.
The fire, now called the Nettleton Gulch Fire, has burned around 20 acres and is largely under control. No buildings were damaged, but firefighting efforts were delayed during the intense search for the shooter. Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking area on the outskirts of town, was briefly placed under a shelter-in-place order as law enforcement evacuated civilians.
As investigators continue searching for answers, the tragic ambush has left a mark on the Coeur d’Alene community and the broader nation. What was meant to be a day of service ended in loss, fear, and confusion. But even in the face of senseless violence, the memory of Harwood and Morrison stands as a testament to courage. They ran toward the flames—unaware of the danger waiting in the shadows and gave everything in service to others.
