COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department provided an update on one of the firefighters critically injured during a shooting that .
In a press release, the department said Engineer Dave Tysdal remains in the ICU, but his condition has improved from critical to stable. Doctors performed a third successful surgery on Tuesday. Tysdal suffered severe chest trauma but is now off a ventilator and able to talk, according to the department.
He also sustained spinal injuries in the incident. Doctors said they are optimistic but noted he faces a long road to recovery.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Way and Coeur d’Alene Fire Chief Thomas Greif identified the two slain firefighters during a press conference Monday.
Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and Battalion Chief John Morrison, of Coeur d’Alene Fire, were both pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital Sunday.
Both firefighters died of gunshot wounds while responding to a fire on Canfield Mountain. A procession was held for both men Sunday following the shooting, and again on Tuesday.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect in the Canfield Mountain shooting, who killed two firefighters, intentionally started the fire that brought emergency crews to the scene.
Sheriff Bob Norris said the suspect, identified by the Associated Press as Wess Roley, was born in California and had previously lived in California, Arizona and Idaho. Norris said Roley had five prior contacts with local law enforcement for minor offenses, such as trespassing, and had previously cooperated with authorities. He did not have a significant criminal history.
During the press conference, Norris said the crime scene remains active and that investigators are still processing Roley’s vehicle. He said it appeared Roley had been living out of the vehicle, though no manifesto was found.
Norris also said investigators believe Roley started the brush fire using a flint striker, which was found in his possession.
