COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador will honor three Kooetnai County deputies for their role responding to last summer’s deadly ambush of firefighters on Canfield Mountain.
A man set a fire to lure in firefighters, then fired shots at those who responded.
Two firefighters were killed and one other seriously injured. The gunman killed himself.
Kootenai County announced Tuesday Deputies Harvey Ballman, Arek Brock and Josh Orr will receive the Attorney General’s Medal of Honor Award for their actions that day.
Sheriff Bob Norris says the deputies “developed a plan and under the most challenging of circumstances extracted the injured firefighter, a trapped firefighter and five civilians all while a wildland fire was actively burning.”
“As the fire spread,” Sheriff Norris added, “the deputies extracted the two murdered firefighters.”
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said, “It is a privilege to recognize these deputies’ heroic actions and honor them with this award. Their selfless courage saved lives and exemplifies the finest of Idaho law enforcement.”
The deputies will also be awarded the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Medal of Honor Award, the highest award presented by the office.
“Kootenai County residents should feel safe and secure knowing that we have deputy sheriffs willing to sacrifice themselves to protect and serve our community,” Sheriff Norris said. “It is an honor to work side by side with each of them.”
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