Little orders flags to half-staff to honor firefighters

Gov. Brad Little has ordered U.S. flags and state of Idaho flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters killed Sunday in an ambush attack in Coeur d'Alene.

Flags will be lowered immediately until the day following the firefighters' memorial service, in accordance with Idaho law, a press release said Monday.

"The entire State of Idaho grieves the profound loss of the firefighters killed in the shocking ambush in North Idaho," Little said. "All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before. This is not Idaho. This indescribable loss is felt deeply by all those in the firefighting community and beyond."

Idaho Sens Jim Risch and Mike Crapo on Monday morning delivered remarks on the U.S. Senate floor on the tragic events in Coeur d’Alene. The senators led a moment of silence to remember the victims and honor the service of Idaho’s first responders. 

"Two of North Idaho's brave firefighters were ambushed and murdered and one is in serious to critical condition," Risch said. "This evil attack on the people who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities is despicable and it's not Idaho."

Risch asked his colleges to join him, Crapo and all Idahoans "in praying for the victims, their loved ones and all who have been affected by this reprehensible act."