Tunnel to Towers Foundation to pay off mortgages for families of fallen firefighters

COEUR d'ALENE — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation plans to pay off the mortgages on the homes of Frank Harwood and John Morrison, the foundation confirmed on its social media Thursday.

The mortgages will be paid off through the foundation's Fallen First Responder Program, which provides mortgage-free homes for families of law enforcement or firefighters killed in the line of duty. 

Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said the men had answered the call to serve and protect their communities. 

"In this time of tragedy, we hope to offer some solace to their families by paying off their mortgages, so that they can grieve with some peace of mind knowing that their greatest bill is taken care of,” Siller said in a statement. 

Harwood, a Kootenai County Fire and Rescue battalion chief, and Morrison, a battalion chief with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, were both shot and killed while responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain on Sunday.

A third firefighter, CDA Fire Engineer Dave Tysdal, was critically injured and is in stable condition at Kootenai Health.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was initially founded to help first responders following the 9/11 attacks.

The Red and Blue Foundation is also raising money for each of the affected families, in addition to first responders who may have been injured during the incident. Donations can be made online at redbluefoundation.org.