On June 29, 2025, firefighters responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, were ambushed by a sniper. Two firefighters were killed, several others injured, and responding law enforcement officers were fired upon during the ensuing chaos. A peaceful mountainside became a war zone in seconds—another tragic example of how violence can erupt anywhere, at any time.
For the team at A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training, this horrifying event underscores a painful truth: first responders are not immune from being targets—and they deserve the same level of situational preparedness as anyone else.
Could This Have Been Prevented?
While hindsight is always clearer, there are clear gaps that, if addressed, could have minimized the risk:
- Lack of threat assessment prior to entry
The area was isolated, heavily wooded, and near a residential property. A proper pre-entry safety check or drone reconnaissance might have revealed suspicious activity or warning signs. - No active threat awareness among fire crews
Firefighters are trained to respond to flames, not bullets. But today’s evolving threat landscape demands that even emergency responders know how to recognize, avoid, or respond to an armed attacker. - Breakdowns in interagency protocols
Delayed police backup and lack of real-time communication contributed to a longer, more dangerous situation. Integrated training could have prevented those lags.
Why A.L.I.V.E. Training Is Crucial—Even for First Responders
At A.L.I.V.E., we teach five core steps to increase your chance of surviving an active shooter situation:
- Assess the situation as quickly and clearly as possible
- Leave the area if it’s safe to do so
- Impeded the attacker if escape isn’t an option
- Violence may be required as a last resort to stop the threat
- Expose your position only when it’s safe and law enforcement has secured the scene
For firefighters and EMTs, these principles must be adapted to the environments they work in—forests, suburban neighborhoods, or industrial areas. Whether arriving at a structure fire, traffic accident, or medical call, violence can erupt anywhere.
A.L.I.V.E. teaches threat recognition, escape strategies, mental preparation, and rapid response protocols that are easy to learn, easy to retain, and can be practiced in real-world settings.
This Is a Wake-Up Call
Firefighters answered a call to save property—and paid with their lives because of an unseen, unanticipated threat. That can’t be ignored. The reality is that active shooter scenarios are no longer confined to schools or offices. They’re happening on quiet trails, in parking lots, and now even during wildland firefighting efforts.
Organizations that train their teams using the A.L.I.V.E. framework are better equipped to prevent panic, take decisive action, and survive.
Don’t Wait Until It Happens to You.
If your agency, department, or business hasn’t gone through active shooter training yet, now is the time. Schedule an in-person or online session and empower your team with the tools to recognize threats early and respond decisively.
👉 Contact Us to get started today.
Stop Guessing. Start Surviving.
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About the Author
Michael D. Julian is President of MPS Security & Protection and a 30-plus-year veteran of the security and investigations industry. He served as President of the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) from 2005 to 2015 and has led executive protection, residential security, and corporate investigations engagements for Fortune 500 principals, high-net-worth families, and public figures across the United States. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.