As a wildfire began to sow panic in a small northern Idaho mountain community, a group of firefighters who rushed to put out the blaze instead found themselves in an unexpected shootout.

The two slain firefighters, who have not been identified, died on the way to the Kootenai Health campus in Coeur d’Alene, a hospital spokesperson said. One was from the Coeur D’Alene Fire Department, and the other was from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, authorities said.