Firefighters fatally wounded and injured during Sunday's assault totaled more than 70 years of service. Here's the current information.
In a shocking turn of events, two firefighters lost their lives and a third was critically injured in an ambush during a brush fire response in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The incident, which occurred on Canfield Mountain, has left the community in mourning and the firefighting community across the nation in shock.
The suspect in this heinous act was identified as Wess Roley, a 20-year-old transient who had been living out of his vehicle near the scene. Investigators believe that Roley intentionally set the brush fire using flint to lure firefighters to the location. Upon their arrival, Roley ambushed them, opening fire with a shotgun after asking them to move their vehicles.
The firefighters, who were caught off guard, took cover behind their fire trucks during the ambush. Two firefighters, Frank Harwood, a battalion chief with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, a veteran firefighter with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, tragically lost their lives in the attack. A third firefighter, Dave Tysdal, an engineer with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, was seriously injured and has undergone two surgeries, currently in critical condition.
Authorities found Roley deceased at the scene with a firearm nearby; it appears he died by suicide. Investigators have not found any manifesto or clear motive for the attack, although it is known that Roley had once wanted to be a firefighter. His vehicle was found nearby, containing considerable debris, suggesting he had been living in it for some time.
The fire itself spread to approximately 26 acres but did not threaten any structures or lead to evacuations. A joint response from various agencies, including the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Idaho State Police, and Coeur d'Alene Police Department, was involved in an exchange of fire for about 90 minutes.
The firefighting community is mourning the loss of Morrison and Harwood, both of whom had nearly 70 years of combined experience in firefighting. Morrison, who served with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department for more than 28 years, had worked his way up the ranks to become a battalion chief. Harwood, a former Army National Guard combat engineer, had been with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue for 17 years and was married with two children.
Dave Tysdal's family has expressed gratitude for the love and support they have received. Tysdal, who has been an engineer with the fire department for 23 years, is currently in critical condition.
This tragic event highlights the dangerous and unpredictable conditions firefighters sometimes face not only from natural causes but also from deliberate attacks. The community and the firefighting community are rallying around the families of the victims and the injured firefighter during this difficult time.
The investigators are questioning Wess Roley's intentions in setting the brush fire near Canfield Mountain, as he was identified as the suspect in the subsequent ambush that led to the deaths of two firefighters and the critical injury of another. The general news and politics community are discussing the dangerous conditions faced by firefighters, as this tragic event underscores the risks they take not only due to natural causes but also from deliberate attacks.
