2025 Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Shooting
Overview
On 29 June 2025, a deliberate ambush occurred on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, resulting in the deaths of two firefighters and critical injury to a third. The suspect, 20-year-old Wess Roley, is believed to have intentionally set a wildfire to lure emergency responders into a deadly trap.
Upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters were targeted by sniper fire from Roley, who fired from a concealed position. Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison were fatally shot, while Engineer Dave Tysdal was critically wounded but later reported to be in stable condition following surgery.
The suspect was later found deceased at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. This incident shocked the community and highlighted the growing dangers faced by first responders in the field.
Victims
The ambush tragically claimed the lives of two highly experienced battalion chiefs and critically injured another firefighter:
- Battalion Chief Frank Harwood (42): A respected member of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue with 17 years of service. Harwood was also a veteran of the Army National Guard, known for his dedication and leadership within the firefighting community.
- Battalion Chief John Morrison (52): Serving with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department for 28 years, Morrison was a seasoned firefighter whose experience and commitment earned him deep respect from colleagues and the community alike.
- Engineer Dave Tysdal (47): A firefighter with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department who sustained critical injuries during the attack. After undergoing two successful surgeries, Tysdal was reported to be in stable condition. His recovery remains a focus of support efforts within the firefighting community.
The loss of Chiefs Harwood and Morrison was mourned deeply, not only within Idaho but across the nation, as fellow first responders honoured their bravery and sacrifice.
Incident Details
At 1:21 p.m. PDT on 29 June 2025, Kootenai County dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a brush fire in Nettleton Gulch on the west flank of Canfield Mountain; this fire was designated the Nettleton Gulch Fire.
Around 2:00 p.m., the first engine companies—drawn from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, and the Northern Lakes Fire District—arrived on scene and were immediately met with gunfire. Firefighters radioed that multiple shots were being fired, prompting them to take cover behind their apparatus and temporarily suspend suppression efforts.
Witness statements released during a briefing on 30 June indicated that the gunman, 20-year-old Wess Roley, briefly spoke with the first crew, inquiring about the fire’s behaviour, before raising a shotgun and opening fire. Investigators believe Roley used a flint striker to ignite the brush deliberately and lured firefighters into a kill zone on the mountain’s western slope.
At 3:16 p.m., detectives traced a ping from Roley’s mobile phone on the upper mountain, enabling SWAT units and aerial assets to tighten the search perimeter. Between 4:05 and 4:30 p.m., county officials issued a shelter-in-place order for neighbourhoods east of downtown Coeur d'Alene, advising residents to remain indoors while the gunman remained at large. Police scanner traffic during the afternoon suggested deputies had located a vehicle believed linked to the attack.
At 7:40 p.m., SWAT officers found Roley dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in dense timber near the fireline, with a firearm recovered beside his body. Sheriff Bob Norris stated evidence indicated Roley had set the fire specifically to ambush first responders and had acted alone.
Once the crime scene was secured, Idaho Department of Lands crews hiked in between 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. to begin cutting a hand-line around what had become a 15 to 20-acre (6.1 to 8.1 hectares) fire. Overnight, the blaze grew to approximately 26 acres (11 hectares) of steep, timbered ground, producing a visible smoke haze over Coeur d'Alene the following morning.
Perpetrator
A day after the shooting, authorities identified the gunman as 20-year-old Wess Val Roley (1 May 2005 – 29 June 2025), a former resident of California. According to Sheriff Bob Norris, Roley is believed to have died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound, with the weapon recovered beside his body.
Roley had five previous minor contacts with law enforcement, including trespassing reports and welfare checks, but he had no criminal record. Investigators have found no writings, manifestos, or ideological material that would indicate a clear motive for the attack.
Born in California and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Roley came from a family of arborists. His grandfather, Dale Roley, expressed surprise and confusion over the attack, noting that Wess had a deep respect for law enforcement and was actively pursuing a career as a firefighter. Dale Roley told CNN that Wess had been working in tree services and was passionate about becoming a forest firefighter.
Roley owned both a shotgun and a long rifle. Investigators are confident that the shotgun was the primary weapon used in the attack but have not ruled out the involvement of additional firearms.
Detectives located Roley’s heavily packed pickup truck in a nearby embankment and believe he had been living out of the vehicle in recent weeks prior to the shooting.
Authorities have confirmed that Roley deliberately ignited the brush fire to lure emergency services to the area as part of a premeditated plan. However, the precise motive for the attack remains unclear. Following an hours-long standoff, a police SWAT team discovered Roley’s body near the scene of the shooting.
Roley maintained an Instagram account which was deleted shortly after the incident. Authorities released a post from this account showing Roley dressed in dark camouflage and wearing a mask, accompanied by the song "Hunter" by Björk.
As of 30 June 2025, detectives had not determined a definitive motive, with investigations into Roley’s background and intent continuing.
Radio Communications
Radio transmissions from the scene of the ambush provide a harrowing insight into the chaotic and dangerous situation faced by the firefighters. The recordings capture the moment responders realised they were the target of a deliberate attack, as well as their urgent calls for assistance.
Notable excerpts include:
"It's clear to me this fire was started intentionally to draw us in."
This statement reflects the immediate suspicion among firefighters that the wildfire was a setup designed to ambush them.
"Send law enforcement right now! There's an active shooter zone. They're shot—BC3 is down, BC1 is down. Everybody's shot up here. Law enforcement, code 3 up here now."
This urgent transmission underscores the severity of the situation as firefighters communicated multiple casualties and the need for immediate law enforcement support.
"We've got two unresponsive battalion chiefs. Gunshot wounds, multiple gunshot wounds."
This chilling message confirms the fatalities among the command staff on scene and highlights the gravity of the attack.
These radio communications not only document the initial confusion and rapid escalation of the crisis but also stand as a testament to the bravery and professionalism of the firefighters under fire.
Investigation and Motive
Within hours of the ambush, authorities declared a temporary no-fly zone over Canfield Mountain, prohibiting unauthorised aircraft and drones. Over 300 law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal agencies were mobilised to respond and carry out evidence recovery.
Specialists from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) remained on scene overnight to document ballistics evidence, while the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) resumed wildfire suppression efforts once the area was declared secure.
Because ground crews were pinned down for several hours during the attack, the Nettleton Gulch Fire expanded to approximately 26 acres (11 hectares) of steep, timbered terrain by the morning of 30 June. The IDL reported preliminary hand-lines around the fire’s perimeter but did not provide a formal containment figure, urging residents to stay prepared for possible evacuation should winds shift.
Public Mourning and Tributes
That evening, a miles-long procession escorted the two fallen firefighters from Kootenai Health Hospital to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Residents lined freeway overpasses, waving American and Idaho flags or saluting as the convoy passed.
Governor Brad Little ordered all U.S. and Idaho flags to be flown at half-staff until the day following the firefighters’ memorial service. During an unrelated Senate spending bill debate, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch led a moment of silence in the U.S. Senate. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) condemned the ambush as “a heinous act of violence” and dispatched peer-support teams to Coeur d'Alene.
Local churches opened their halls for counselling sessions, and regional Critical Incident Stress Management teams provided free debriefings to first-responder agencies. Community members also launched crowdfunding campaigns to support the families of the fallen and injured firefighters.
Responses
Law Enforcement and Federal Agencies
Within two hours of the incident, more than a dozen public-safety agencies had converged on Canfield Mountain. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office served as incident command, supported by the Idaho State Police, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, and neighbouring jurisdictions in Spokane, Shoshone, and Bonner counties.
The FBI deployed crisis negotiation specialists, evidence response technicians, and aerial surveillance assets from its Spokane Resident Agency. The ATF’s Seattle Field Division sent ballistics experts and certified fire investigators to examine the crime scene and determine the fire’s origin.
Air support included a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter equipped with FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared), two Spokane County Sheriff’s helicopters, and an armoured rescue vehicle from the region’s multijurisdictional SWAT team.
Fire and Emergency Medical Support
Because the first-arriving fire engines “came under fire almost immediately” and were forced to take cover, suppression efforts were suspended until the slope was declared secure later that evening. Once law enforcement lifted the security hold (around 7:30 p.m.), the Idaho Department of Lands ordered additional hand crews, engines, heavy equipment, and aircraft to strengthen wildfire suppression.
Air-medical support was provided by Life Flight Network, which staged a helicopter at Kootenai Health Hospital and positioned additional aircraft at a temporary landing zone on U.S. Route 95. Numerous ground ambulances from neighbouring jurisdictions were also stationed near the command post to respond to potential further casualties.
Political and Organisational Reactions
Governor Brad Little described the attack as an “evil attack on the people who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities,” activating the state emergency operations centre to coordinate wildfire suppression and investigative resources. The IAFF sent peer-support teams to assist local firefighters and first responders.
Investigative Status
As of 30 June 2025, the motive remained “under active investigation” by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives were analysing the suspect’s digital devices, interviewing family members, and reviewing firearm purchase records provided by the ATF.
The FBI requested that anyone with video footage captured on Canfield Mountain between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. upload it to a dedicated evidence-collection portal.
Investigators processed the suspect’s pickup truck, which had been forced off a forest road during the search, and analysed data recovered from his deleted social media accounts. The investigation continues with no definitive motive established.
Community and Official Reactions
The shooting of the firefighters sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond. Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as a "heinous direct assault" on those who serve to protect the public. In response, he activated the state emergency operations centre to coordinate resources and support for first responders and the affected families.
The Coeur d'Alene community held vigils and memorials to honour the fallen firefighters, expressing deep sorrow and solidarity with their loved ones and colleagues. Local businesses, residents, and neighbouring fire departments came together to offer assistance, fundraising, and emotional support.
The International Association of Fire Fighters dispatched a peer-support team to Coeur d'Alene to provide counselling and crisis intervention services for firefighters and emergency personnel affected by the tragedy. Fire departments nationwide also expressed condolences and raised awareness of the dangers faced by first responders.
A crisis relief fund was established to provide financial aid and assistance to the families of Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison, as well as support for Engineer Dave Tysdal during his recovery. Community leaders emphasised the importance of standing united against violence targeting emergency personnel.
This incident sparked national discussions about the increasing risks that firefighters and other first responders face in the line of duty, highlighting the need for improved safety measures, mental health resources, and policies to protect those who protect others.
Significance
The 2025 Coeur d'Alene firefighters shooting marked a grim reminder of the escalating risks faced by emergency responders across the United States. The deliberate use of a sniper rifle to target firefighters responding to a wildfire was unprecedented in the region, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of those on the front lines.
This incident has prompted national discussions on enhancing protective measures for first responders, including improved situational awareness training, deployment of advanced safety equipment, and increased coordination with law enforcement during high-risk responses.
Furthermore, the attack underscored the need for mental health support and community resources to help emergency personnel cope with the physical and psychological toll of their work—especially in situations involving targeted violence.
The tragedy also spurred legislative debates on firearm regulations and policies aimed at preventing such ambushes in the future. Across firefighting organisations, there has been renewed emphasis on peer support and resilience building, recognising the vital role these measures play in safeguarding lives and maintaining effective emergency services.
