Two dead after sniper fires at crews responding to a blaze in Idaho

Authorities say firefighters responding to fire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, were shot at. The sheriff said two people were killed and police were still "taking sniper fire".

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain around 1.30pm and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Initially, it was unclear whether any firefighters were shot.

Governor Brad Little said on social media multiple firefighters were attacked while responding to a blaze on Sunday afternoon (local time).

"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters," Little said.

"I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more."

The sheriff's office in neighbouring Soshone County said on Facebook that authorities were "dealing with an active shooter situation where the shooter is still at large".

An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 6.5km north of downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Coeur d'Alene was a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington.