What began as a routine response to a small brush fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, turned into a tragic and violent ambush.

Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters were dispatched to the fire near a popular trailhead. About 30 minutes later, gunfire erupted from the woods. A firefighter’s desperate radio call captured the terror: “Send law enforcement right now… everybody’s shot up here.”

Authorities believe the fire was deliberately set to lure first responders into a trap. Two firefighters were killed, and a third remains in critical condition following the sniper-style attack.

“This was a heinous act of violence,” said the International Association of Fire Fighters. Sheriff Robert Norris confirmed the attack and revealed that responding officers came under sniper fire.

Later, a SWAT team found the suspected gunman dead on the mountain with a firearm nearby. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are assisting in the investigation.

“This was almost like a battlefield scene,” said former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, describing how firefighters were pinned down behind their trucks.

Governor Brad Little called the attack “a direct assault on our brave firefighters” and urged all Idahoans to keep the victims and their families in their prayers.