Montana News Roundup: Shock and Sadness Over Firefighter Shooting

Fire fighters and elected leaders across the Northern Rockies are reacting with sadness and shock to the shooting incident that led to the death of two firefighters in Northern Idaho Sunday afternoon.

Officials in Kootenai County are still putting together the details, but say it appears the suspect set a wildfire outside Coeur d'Alene on Canfield Mountain to lure crews to the scene and then opened fire. Two were killed, an initial reports of a third being injured.

     -In an evening press conference, Sheriff Bob Norris called it "an ambush".

The manhunt lasted for several hours with a massive law enforcement response, before officers say a SWAT team found a deceased man on the mountain with a rifle nearby. Norris says they are still working to identify the suspect, and will look for additional weapons after the fire quiets down.

Law enforcement and fire agencies in Montana continue to post messages of condolence and support.

READ MORE: Coverage from KXLY

Good news on Montana's largest active fire

Evacuation warnings have been lifted, but firefighters remain vigilant to keep the Jericho Mountain Fire west of Helena from jumping lines. The lightning-caused fire had consumed just under 5-hundred acres as of last night. Crews continuing to do mop up and watch for hotspots as the weather turns back to hot and dry.

     🔥 Fire activity did pick up across the state over the weekend

But most fires have remained relatively small, including a blaze west of Flathead Lake Friday which burned just over 80-acres but was quickly dealt with. That blaze is believed to have started with fireworks and that will be a concern all week.

Search continues in mysterious disappearance near Bozeman

Gallatin County Search and Rescue teams spent the weekend in a renewed search for a man who who's been missing in the Bear Canyon and New World Gulch areas since last November. Searchers are also asking for the public to pass along any new tips that could help determine what happened to David Butzen.

Senators, conservation groups agree on public lands sale idea stoppage

Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, as well as Representative Ryan Zinke are celebrating the decision to drop that proposal to sell public lands from the federal budget package in Washington. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who had still be trying to include some language after a broader proposal hit a brick wall last week, announced over the weekend the proposal was being taken out of the budget proposal.

     🏕️ Daines and Sheehy call it a "victory for our Montana way of life."

The Center for Western Priorities says the removal of Lee's language is a "big improvement", but expansion of oil and has drilling releases is still troubling.