COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Four firefighters have been nominated for the Idaho Medal of Honor following a June 29 ambush in Coeur d’Alene in which a gunman opened fire on first responders, killing two battalion chiefs and wounding others during the response.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the Northern Lakes Fire District submitted the nominations to recognize personnel who responded to the incident, KXLY reported.
The nominations name Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, both killed in the line of duty, as well as Coeur d’Alene Firefighter Dave Tysdal and Northern Lakes Fire District Captain Fritz Wiedenhoff, who survived the attack.
Officials said Tysdal and Wiedenhoff helped stop additional firefighters and police from entering the active threat area, allowing law enforcement to secure the scene. Tysdal was critically injured in the attack.
The departments called the ambush “a defining moment” and said the four firefighters’ actions embodied the highest standards of duty and courage.
The Idaho Medal of Honor Commission will make its decision on Feb. 10, 2026, and the departments will announce memorial and recognition plans when confirmed.
