‘If we’re not protecting our protectors, the whole system breaks down’ – Sullivan says

COUER D’ ALENE, Idaho — Following the tragic shooting on June 29, 2025, when a lone gunman struck two firefighters in a deadly ambush, “the line between public safety and personal danger has never been thinner,” fire safety expert Joshua Sullivan said.

Sullivan, master instructor and COO of A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training and an active firefighter, weighed in on the greatest concerns currently facing firefighters and public safety agencies.  

“Today’s responders are walking into more unknowns than ever, including hostile environments, evolving threats and rising violence – often without critical intel,” he said. “They’re trained to save lives, but increasingly, they're having to fight for their own.” 

The shooting sparked concerns for the security of fire safety personnel at incident sites and what more can be done to safeguard those working in the field. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recorded 62 fatal firefighter injuries in 2024, with at least one by gunshot, and more still from situations encountered at active emergency scenes. 

Some public safety companies are expanding their capabilities with their software platforms to address those concerns, such as RapidSOS’s recent additions for Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs) that introduce AI features to improve response times on emergency requests. However, public safety workers have a growing list of priorities with incident sites now a target for violence. 

Sullivan believes that the best way for the security industry to help combat these situations is knowledge and teamwork. 

“Train together, plan together, act together,” he said. “The phrase that's drilled into EMT students from day one of training is ‘scene safe, BSI (body substance isolation), PPE (personal protective equipment).' But too often, it’s treated like a test answer, not a mindset."  

Sullivan concludes that, “Firefighters need real-time threat intel and active shooter tactics built into their protocols. The Idaho incident made one thing clear: if we’re not protecting our protectors, the whole system breaks down.” 

During the incident in Idaho, 20-year-old suspect Wess Roley intentionally set a brush fire to lure first responders to the area where he opened fire with a high-powered rifle, killing two firefighters and wounding a third. The fallen were identified as Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, and the wounded firefighter identified as Dave Tysdal. 

“All these men were heroic in their duties as they put their lives on the line to protect and serve others. In the coming days we will honor them properly for their sacrifice to the city they serve,” Coeur d’Alene Mayor Woody McEvers and the city council wrote in response to the incident.