The authorities said a gunman started a wildfire to lure firefighters, and then ambushed them in a sniper attack, killing two and wounding a third.

A man who had intentionally set the fire to ambush the crew on Sunday was perched in a sniper position, firing at the firefighters, according to the AP. They took cover behind firetrucks, but two died and a third was wounded during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, authorities said.

Two firefighters were killed and one critically wounded in a northern Idaho shooting Sunday afternoon as they responded to a fire that authorities believe was intentionally started by the now-deceased gunman.