"This was a total ambush. These firefighters didn't stand a chance."
I've discovered that it's quite difficult to find news about the sniper murders of Idaho firefighters, and I'm wondering why that is. Politics does not come close in importance to the atrocity that took place on an Idaho mountain this past Sunday afternoon. I shouldn't need to hunt down information about the deliberate murder of firefighters responding to an emergency, but I do. There just isn't much news coverage.
The murdered men were public servants who had dedicated their lives to helping, saving, and protecting others. Firefighters are unarmed and don't wear body armor. When on a call, they have about 60 lbs. of gear to handle in the midst of life-threatening circumstances. Firefighters on scene act as one, focused on a single purpose--do the job.
There was a third firefighter, Engineer Dave Tysdal, who was shot and is recovering in the hospital following life-saving surgeries. If firefighters and other first responders now have to think about being shot dead by a sniper, in addition to all the other crucial concerns they must consider at a fire scene, then this country has much bigger problems that politics.
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| Battalion Chief Frank J. Harwood, Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief John Morrison, Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Died in the line of duty, shot by a sniper ~ Rest in Peace |
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| Engineer Dave Tysdal Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Recovering following two surgeries |
