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What we know about the firefighters killed and injured in the Idaho ambush

What we know about the firefighters killed and injured in the Idaho ambush
We now know the identities of the two firefighters that were killed in an ambush attack Sunday afternoon. Kootenay County Fire Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d'Alene Fire Battalion Chief John Morrison. During the conference, Fire Chief Tom Greife described the tragedy as the absolute darkest days in the department's history. We also learned the identity of the 3 firefighter hit by gunfire, David Tis. is currently at Kootenay Medical Center, where he is in stable condition. Many questions raised at Monday's conference surrounded the future of these departments' emergency response. We're told the support and partnership between fire agencies and local law enforcement during this dark time is going to continue into the foreseeable future. Take *** look. Our law enforcement partners have stepped up and guaranteed *** response to every call we go on, whether it's Whether it needs whether it would be *** typical call that law enforcement went on, I think that gives our brothers and sisters in law enforcement an ease that they're there on the front side. It certainly gives our firefighters an ease as we're responding. Coeur d'Alene City Police Department, Kootenay County Sheriff's Department, Post Falls Police Department, and ISP have all stepped up and said we will absolutely go to every call you go on. He goes on to explain that while there are very reasonable. Nerves throughout the different first response agencies in the wake of this tragedy. It's not going to stop them from doing what their fallen brothers did in putting the community's safety over all else. We're told *** second procession is set for Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. Crews will be taking battalion chiefs Morrison and Harwood from the Spokane County Medical Examiner's office back home toeur d'Alene. Reporting in Kootena County, I'm Ainsley Anderson.
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Updated: 6:46 AM CDT Jul 1, 2025
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What we know about the firefighters killed and injured in the Idaho ambush
CNN logo
Updated: 6:46 AM CDT Jul 1, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Two firefighters were fatally shot and a third is seriously injured after investigators say a lone gunman opened fire on crews responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain Sunday, near Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.The now deceased suspect is believed to have started the fire intentionally to draw-in and target responding firefighters, officials have said.Within an hour of being deployed, firefighters reported being shot at as the blaze continued to burn.Various agencies, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police and Coeur d’Alene Police Department, were caught in an exchange of fire for about 90 minutes, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.The two firefighters killed in the fray have been identified as Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison.The injured firefighter has been identified as Coeur d’Alene Fire Department engineer Dave Tysdal, according to fire officials. He is in critical condition.“This wasn’t an event that we had trained for,” said Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Chief Tom Greif during a Monday news conference.“We train every day for high risk, low frequency events that are dangerous in our profession, but we never imagined that we would be ambushed responding to a wildland incident at a command post,” Greif said.With nearly 70 years of firefighting experience combined, Harwood, Morrison and Tysdal have left an indelible impact on the Coeur d’Alene community, fire officials said.Here’s what we know:Frank Harwood, 42A member of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue for 17 years, Harwood was married and had two children, Chief Christopher Way said.Harwood was also a former Army National Guard combat engineer, Way said.“Chief Harwood was a leader in our organization. He did an amazing job. He was a shift commander and he was well respected by his shift,” Way said Monday. “This loss is felt by so many, including all of the members of his shift.”John Morrison, 52Morrison served with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department for more than 28 years and moved up the ranks in his department from firefighter to battalion chief, Greif said.“These guys were hard workers,” said Gabe Eckert, President of the Coeur d’Alene Firefighter’s union. “They loved their families.”Eckert shared his final memory with Morrison during Monday’s news conference, recalling a time when the pair smoked cigars during a rare lull at the fire station.“We talked about being better fathers, we talked about being better leaders, talked about being better firefighters,” Eckert said.“I just want to say I am so incredibly grateful that that gets to be my last memory with him.”Dave Tysdal, 47An engineer with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, Tysdal is recovering after undergoing two surgeries and is in critical condition, according to Greif.Tysdal has been an engineer with the fire department for 23 years, Greif said.“We thank everyone for their love and support,” a family statement read by Greif said.“Dave is surrounded by his family, and he is able to open his eyes and the two surgeries have gone well,” the statement added.

Two firefighters were fatally shot and a third is seriously injured after investigators say a lone gunman opened fire on crews responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain Sunday, near Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

The now deceased suspect is believed to have started the fire intentionally to draw-in and target responding firefighters, officials have said.

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Within an hour of being deployed, firefighters reported being shot at as the blaze continued to burn.

Various agencies, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police and Coeur d’Alene Police Department, were caught in an exchange of fire for about 90 minutes, according to Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.

The two firefighters killed in the fray have been identified as Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison.

The injured firefighter has been identified as Coeur d’Alene Fire Department engineer Dave Tysdal, according to fire officials. He is in critical condition.

“This wasn’t an event that we had trained for,” said during a Monday news conference.

“We train every day for high risk, low frequency events that are dangerous in our profession, but we never imagined that we would be ambushed responding to a wildland incident at a command post,” Greif said.

With nearly 70 years of firefighting experience combined, Harwood, Morrison and Tysdal have left an indelible impact on the Coeur d’Alene community, fire officials said.

Coeur d'Alene Fire Department engineer Dave Tysdal, left, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, center, and Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, right, were impacted in this shooting.
City of Coeur d'Alene/Kootenai County Fire & Rescue via CNN Newsource
Coeur d’Alene Fire Department engineer Dave Tysdal, left, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, center, and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison.

Here’s what we know:

Frank Harwood, 42

A member of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue for 17 years, Harwood was married and had two children, Chief Christopher Way said.

Harwood was also a former Army National Guard combat engineer, Way said.

“Chief Harwood was a leader in our organization. He did an amazing job. He was a shift commander and he was well respected by his shift,” Way said Monday. “This loss is felt by so many, including all of the members of his shift.”

John Morrison, 52

Morrison served with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department for more than 28 years and moved up the ranks in his department from firefighter to battalion chief, Greif said.

“These guys were hard workers,” said Gabe Eckert, President of the Coeur d’Alene Firefighter’s union. “They loved their families.”

Eckert shared his final memory with Morrison during Monday’s news conference, recalling a time when the pair smoked cigars during a rare lull at the fire station.

“We talked about being better fathers, we talked about being better leaders, talked about being better firefighters,” Eckert said.

“I just want to say I am so incredibly grateful that that gets to be my last memory with him.”

Dave Tysdal, 47

An engineer with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, Tysdal is recovering after undergoing two surgeries and is in critical condition, according to Greif.

Tysdal has been an engineer with the fire department for 23 years, Greif said.

“We thank everyone for their love and support,” a family statement read by Greif said.

“Dave is surrounded by his family, and he is able to open his eyes and the two surgeries have gone well,” the statement added.