Authorities say firefighters who rushed to put out a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community found themselves instead in an unexpected shootout.

Two firefighters were shot dead and a third wounded on an Idaho mountain when they were ambushed by a man who set the fire to lure them to the area, the local sheriff says.

Two firefighters were killed and residents were ordered to shelter in place, but the order was lifted after police found a dead man in the woods.