A photo of Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42.He was shot and killed Sunday, June 29, while responding to a brush fire on Canfield Mountain. The fire was intentionally set, officials said, and the shooter ambushed firefighters. (Photo: IAFF)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — One of the Idaho firefighters who was killed by a shooter while responding to a brush fire was a Neenah high school graduate.
Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, graduated from Neenah High School in 2001.
According to the district, he played football through his senior year.
Coincidentally, Rep. Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) also attended Neenah High School and graduated in 2002. Both were on the football team.
“Frank Harwood was a very hard worker. He was one of the coach’s favorite players because he gave 100% in everything he did,” said Tusler. “It was always his dream to be a firefighter, he wanted, in some capacity, to be working in government either as a firefighter or in law enforcement. And he just fit the mold; it was the way he thought, and the way he worked.”
Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, were ambushed by a man, later identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, Sunday afternoon as they responded to a grass fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene.
A third firefighter, Coeur d’Alene Fire Engineer Dave Tysdal, 47, was shot and is still in the hospital recovering after two successful surgeries. He’s reportedly in stable condition.
Investigators said firefighters had a brief interaction with Roley when they first got on scene, asking him to move his vehicle as they set up an initial fire attack, and shortly after that, Roley opened fire.
Firefighters radioed to dispatch that they were taking gunfire and said they believed the fire was “intentionally set to draw us in.” Investigators later confirmed that report.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly issued a statement:
Yesterday’s ambush killing of two fire fighters responding to a brush fire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is nothing short of horrific. We mourn the loss of our two brothers, Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief and Local 710 member John Morrison, Jr., and Kootenai County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief and Local 2856 member Frank Harwood, and are keeping their families and loved ones in our prayers. Our thoughts are also with Local 710 Brother, Coeur d’Alene Fire Engineer Dave Tysdal, who was shot and remains hospitalized.
In no civilized nation should first responders be targets for violence. The IAFF is committed to making a dangerous job safer for fire fighters and emergency medical workers, and that means working with our elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure those who commit these heinous acts are held responsible.
IAFF members are trained and committed to responding to any emergency, no matter the danger. That is as true today as tomorrow. Our brothers and sisters in Idaho will continue to serve their communities, even during these difficult times.
Roley was found deceased with a flint fire starter, believed to be used to start the fire, and the weapon used to kill Harwood and Morrison. The wildfire is still burning across 26 acres, but has not grown.
Authorities believe that Roley shot himself.
The governor of Idaho has ordered the flags across the state at half staff in honor of the firefighters. It will remain in effect until the day after the firefighters’ memorial.
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