By REBECCA BOONE and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — As a wildfire began to sow panic in a small northern Idaho mountain community, a group of firefighters who rushed to put out the blaze instead found themselves in an unexpected shootout.

A man who had intentionally set the fire to ambush the crew on Sunday was perched in a sniper position, firing at the firefighters. They took cover behind fire trucks, but two died and a third was wounded during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.

First responders made urgent calls for help on their radios at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene: “Everybody’s shot up here … send law enforcement now,” according to one dispatch.

Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found the suspect dead in the mountains, his firearm beside him.

It is unknown how he died, and authorities have not yet revealed a motive.

The suspect has been identified as Wess Roley, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

“We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional,” Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said at a Sunday night news conference. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”

The wounded firefighter was “fighting for his life” after surgery and was in stable condition, Norris said.

“When you have an environment where you don’t know where the bullets are coming from because of the trees and the shrubbery and what have you, it is daunting for police officers, let alone firefighters,” Norris said.

Outpouring of support was swift in Coeur d’Alene, a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington.

Hours after the ambush, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters’ bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur d’Alene.

Gov. Brad Little on Monday ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the f

NFPA 1970 isn’t just paperwork; it drives tangible changes to the equipment firefighters depend on. Helmet products, for example, now must meet tighter specs on toxic substances in soft fabrics and integrated lighting systems must comply with new intrinsic safety standards. This means that the electronics embedded in helmets have to be non-incendiary—critical in volatile fireground environments.

From the turnout gear perspective, the largest impacts relate to the fabrics and coatings used in garments. While older materials had established, functionally important coatings—such as water-repellency and chemical resistance—many of those now fall under scrutiny for hazardous substances. New PFAS-free shells introduced around 2021 show some performance tradeoffs, particularly in repellency and contamination control, which can unintentionally shorten gear lifecycle. This represents a learning curve not only for manufacturers but also for end users who rely heavily on the durability and protective qualities of their gear. Innovation pushed by the new standard is aimed at raising the bar of firefighter protection, but these developments will require ongoing research and field feedback before all kinks are worked out.

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Maddie Seiler
The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa.
(TNS)

Carlisle officials approved the sale of one of the borough’s fire trucks to another Cumberland County department during their meeting June 12.

The borough council also addressed a series of projects, including water system rehabilitation, traffic signal upgrades, a riparian buffer at Biddle Mission Park and water damage repairs at Borough Hall.

Fire engine sale

The council authorized the sale of a 2008 Sutphen fire engine to Silver Spring Community Fire Company for $225,000.

Borough Manager Susan Armstrong said the borough approved the purchase of a new rescue pumper in 2023 for approximately $1.1 million, with anticipated delivery next fall. Officials determined that Carlisle Fire & Rescue Services could sell the current engine before receiving the new apparatus.

“The borough has seen a decline in volunteers which presents a challenge in operating two pumpers simultaneously,” she said. “The proposed project will afford the borough the opportunity to streamline its operational fleet to a single, versatile apparatus, bolstering efficiency across the department.”

Armstrong said the new pumper will be able to combat a broader range of fires, including those caused by flammable liquids. The apparatus can also respond to vehicle crashes and industrial incidents.

Officials set the sale price after researching comparable apparatus, Armstrong said. Local fire chief meetings addressed the sale and Silver Spring’s department expressed interest in buying the equipment.

Armstrong said borough code permits property sales to a township or volunteer fire company without bidding or auction requirements, allowing the council to approve the sale through a resolution.

The sale will help fund the pumper Carlisle is expected to receive next fall, she said, adding the borough has also received grant funding and will continue to seek additional grant opportunities to cover that cost.

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Water system rehabilitation

The council also approved a $87,750 engineering contract with engineering firm Gannett Fleming Inc. to provide design services for the next phase of Carlisle’s ongoing Water Distribution System Rehabilitation Program.

In 2022, the borough kicked off the program, designed to replace about one to two miles of aging pipeline each year.

Director of Water Resources Maurita Abeln said the council approved a design last year for rehabilitation in the northern portion of the borough, initially planning for construction this year.

However, the borough recently learned PennDOT plans to complete roadwork along&n

SMEAL—Alton (IL) Fire Department 107-foot rear-mount aerial, Spartan Gladiator cab and chassis; Cummins X15 600-hp engine; two-bottle cascade system; Harrison 10kW generator; pull-out hosebed for 500 feet of 5-inch hose; Duo-Safety ground ladders, Dealer: Rick O’Hara, Fire Apparatus Supply Team, Lincoln, IL, (Photo courtesy of Tom Mouse.)

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