Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said that investigators believe a gunman, identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, intentionally ignited a fire that firefighters were responding to when he opened fire leaving two firefighters dead and a third wounded.

Lawrence Park Fire Chief Joe Crotty and retired Erie Fire Department Deputy Chief Bill Vahey both said incidents like these, while rare, go to show that when called to a fire, firefighters are never quite sure what they will encounter.

Crotty and Vahey also agreed that firefighter community is a brotherhood, so when a tragedy like this occurs it impacts all who do the job.