Last updated: July 1, 2025
📌 What Happened on June 29, 2025
At approximately 2 p.m. on June 29, firefighters from Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County responded to reports of a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. What they encountered was far from routine. Firefighters were met with sudden gunfire—an act that turned the blaze into a fatal ambush. By nightfall, two veteran firefighters—John Morrison (52) and Frank Harwood (42)—were killed, a third was critically injured, and the suspected gunman, 20-year-old Wess Roley, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted wound thedailybeast.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15indiatimes.com+15.
🔥 The Calculated Attack
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Engineered trap: Authorities say Roley used a flint striker to intentionally spark the fire—drawing first responders into a kill zone the-independent.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4washingtonpost.com+4.
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Prepared position: Coming from an arborist family and adept at tree climbing, Roley concealed himself above the scene, armed with a shotgun firing rifled slugs wapt.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2washingtonpost.com+2.
🧱 Who Was Wess Roley?
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A transient 20-year-old, who had moved between California, Arizona, and Idaho, and had been living out of his truck .
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Previously employed in tree services and said to have aspired to become a firefighter—often expressing admiration for the profession people.com+5axios.com+5nypost.com+5.
💔 Conflicting Portraits
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On one hand: Family, including his grandfather Dale, described him as respectful, close-knit, and intent on a firefighting career hindustantimes.com+4thedailybeast.com+4wapt.com+4.
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On the other: Classmates labeled him “obsessed with guns,” “high-strung,” even noting extremist symbols like swastikas in notebooks the-independent.com+1abcnews.go.com+1.
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No formal manifesto or clear motive has been found—investigators continue examining his digital footprint and history en.wikipedia.org+2washingtonpost.com+2wapt.com+2.
🚓 The Aftermath & Response
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More than 300 officers, including local police, SWAT, FBI, and ATF, responded. By 7:40 p.m., Roley was located and confirmed dead m.economictimes.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13abcnews.go.com+13.
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News of the ambush prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby neighborhoods en.wikipedia.org+1people.com+1.
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The burned area eventually spread to approximately 26 acres before containment efforts resumed abcnews.go.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2washingtonpost.com+2.
👨🚒 Honoring Fallen Firefighters
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Battalion Chiefs John Morrison and Frank Harwood were celebrated for decades of service (28 and 17 years, respectively) cbsnews.com+5abcnews.go.com+5washingtonpost.com+5.
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A funeral procession featuring fire and law enforcement vehicles stretched for miles; hundreds of community members lined nearby highways in solemn tribute the-independent.com+7washingtonpost.com+7axios.com+7.
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Idaho Governor Brad Little ordered flags at half-staff through the funeral, and the IAFF dispatched grief support to Coeur d’Alene wapt.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3abcnews.go.com+3.
🔍 Why This Matters
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Targeted violence: The incident underscores the growing threat of premeditated attacks on first responders.
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Complex motives: When admiration, mental strain, and potentially extremist symbols collide, tragedies can emerge from unexpected sources.
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Safety protocols: This event highlights the urgent need to reassess fire response strategies and law enforcement collaboration in hostile-fire responses.
🌱 Next Steps for Readers
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Reflect on Service: Know a firefighter or first responder? Thank them. Support local fundraising efforts for families of fallen heroes.
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Stay Informed: Follow updates from Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, press briefings, and official investigations into motives and safety reforms.
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Community Action: Ask:
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Does your local fire department train with police for active-threat scenarios?
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Is there a system to share intel in rural or backcountry fire zones?
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🙏 In Remembrance
John Morrison and Frank Harwood made the ultimate sacrifice defending our forests and communities. May their service inspire better protections and unity in the face of violence.