Kevin Roberstson
On June 29, 2025, what began as a routine brush fire response on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, turned into a chilling ambush. Two veteran firefighters were ambushed by a wildfire set on purpose; then, they were shot by a sniper. A third firefighter was critically injured. This harrowing attack represents a rare and shocking first-responder tragedy.
Firefighters Ambushed: Planned Ambush at the Fire Scene
Fire crews responded around 1:30 p.m. to a brush fire reported in the popular outdoor area. Shortly after, someone hiding in the surrounding trees opened fire on them with a hail of sniper shots.
A dispatcher’s urgent radio call captured the urgency: “Send law enforcement up here immediately… Everybody’s shot up here.” Officials now believe the fire was intentionally started to draw in responders.
Loss of Two Heroes, One Critical Survivor
A sniper shot and killed Battalion Chief Frank Harwood (42) from Kootenai County Fire & Rescue and Battalion Chief John Morrison (52) from Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. Paramedics pronounced both men dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, a third victim, Engineer Dave Tysdal (47), suffered critical injuries, but doctors performed successful surgery, and he is now in stable condition.
The Shooter: Wess Roley, 20
Subsequently, authorities identified the shooter as 20-year-old Wess Roley, who allegedly set the fire using a flint striker and then ambushed the firefighters from a vantage point.
SWAT teams tracked him via cellphone pings, recovered his body and rifle on-site, and believe he died by suicide.
He reportedly aspired to join the fire services but lived as a transient with limited law enforcement contact.
Response & Investigation
Over 300 officers—including FBI and Homeland Security units—responded with helicopters and snipers to secure the site. Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. Idaho Governor Brad Little called it a “heinous direct assault” and ordered flags flown at half-staff.
Firefighters Ambushed: A Community in Mourning
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) mourned the loss. A solemn procession carried the fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health to Spokane, with residents lining the route in tribute.
Such targeted violence against first responders is extremely rare and deeply disturbing. The intentional wildfire ambush claimed the lives of two Idaho firefighters and severely injured a third.
Investigators continue to probe the motive behind Wess Roley’s calculated attack. As the community grieves, it stands united in support of the fallen heroes and their families. This chilling event underscores the ongoing need to protect first responders in every emergency, including those orchestrated like a battlefield.
