Tragedy at Canfield Mountain: A Transient's Descent

A wildfire deliberately started by a 20-year-old transient escalated into a fatal shooting in northern Idaho, resulting in the deaths of two firefighters while injuring another, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris confirmed on Monday.

The incident occurred at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreational area north of Coeur d'Alene, as firefighters responded to the blaze, only to come under gunfire from Wess Roley. Roley, who once aspired to be a firefighter himself, was living out of his vehicle in the area. Authorities remain baffled by his motives, as no manifesto or clear reasoning for his actions has been uncovered.

As the situation unfolded, Roley launched a barrage of gunfire, later taking his own life in the mountains with his firearm found beside him. The FBI assisted in tracking him using cell phone data. The community and victims' families are in shock, with many still grappling to understand the tragic event.

(With inputs from agencies.)