In northern Idaho, a tragic event unfolded on Canfield Mountain, near Coeur d’Alene, when a 20-year-old transient named Wess Roley initiated a wildfire and then opened fire on firefighters, resulting in the deaths of two and serious injury to another. According to Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, Roley was living out of his vehicle and had once dreamed of becoming a firefighter himself, but had only limited run-ins with local law enforcement. The motive behind the assault remains unclear as authorities continue their investigation.
The confrontation led to the death of Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, who had served the county fire department for 17 years and was an Army National Guard veteran with a wife and two children. Also killed was John Morrison, a 52-year-old Battalion Chief with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, who had dedicated 28 years to service. Meanwhile, Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, was critically injured and undergone two successful surgeries.
In response to this tragic incident, local police forces have pledged their support by accompanying firefighters on all future calls, though Fire Chief Christopher Way expressed uncertainty about quickly restoring the community’s peace of mind. The attack began when Roley set a fire using flint, catching the firefighters off guard, who were forced to take cover.
Roley, who later ended his own life, had previous connections to California and Arizona before residing in Idaho for most of 2024. A large-scale law enforcement response, including snipers and the FBI’s assistance in tracking him using cellphone data, ended when Roley was discovered deceased in the mountains.
Prior to the incident, Roley had lived with T.J. Franks Jr. in Sandpoint, Idaho, working for a tree service. Franks noticed disturbing behaviors from Roley, such as throwing gang signs at security cameras and leaving his vehicle idling for extended periods, leading him to contact authorities.
Support for the affected families has been profound in Coeur d’Alene, a community of 55,000 people near the Washington border. Residents honored the fallen firefighters by lining Interstate 90 with American flags as their bodies were transported to Spokane, Washington. In recognition of the sacrifice, Idaho’s Governor Brad Little ordered that flags be flown at half-staff.
Though the initial shelter-in-place order has been lifted, residents are advised to remain vigilant as the wildfire has consumed approximately 26 acres. Fire Chief Way stated that efforts to contain the blaze have been largely successful, and the risk of any further advancement has been minimized. Fire concerns are constant in the area, particularly highlighted by resident Bruce Deming’s observation that day. As helicopters were absent due to the danger of gunfire, it became evident why the air response was delayed.