Coeur d'Alene, ID, Firefighter Hurt in Ambush Retires after 24 Years
The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
(TNS)
Feb. 19—The Coeur d'Alene firefighter who, despite life-threatening injuries, was able to warn other firefighters about a shooter on Canfield Mountain last summer, has announced his retirement as he continues to try to regain the use of his legs.
The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department announced Thursday that Engineer David Tysdal has retired after 24 years. His last official day was January 31.
"As a result of injuries sustained in the service of our community, Tysdal's continued medical treatment and recovery made retirement the right move for Dave and his family," the news release states.
Tysdal was shot on June 29 when a gunman opened fire on crews who responded to a fire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d'Alene that investigators believe was set by 20-year-old Wess Roley.
The shooting killed Battalion chiefs John Morrison, 52, of Coeur d'Alene, and 42-year-old Frank Harwood, of Kootenai County Fire & Rescue.
Lying on the ground and immobilized from his wounds, Tysdal was able to warn responding Battalion Chief Fritz Weidenhoff, of Northern Lakes Fire District, who was then able to radio out updates from the scene that drew in law enforcement and prevented more responders from entering the killing zone.
"On the mountain that day, Dave saved a lot of lives," Coeur d'Alene Fire Captain Nate Hyder said last year. "When (Weidenhoff) got up there, Dave was able to alert him before anything happened to him. And they were able to get the message out. They were able to save a lot of lives."
The Coeur d'Alene news release announcing Tysdal's retirement noted that it would not respond to requests for interviews. Requests by The Spokesman-Review to interview Tysdal since the shooting have been declined.
Tysdal began fighting fires in the Lake City in 2002. He is a founding member of the Idaho Disaster Dogs search team and served as a handler for two dogs, Bailey and Maya.
Tysdal also was credited with helping start the Idaho Technical Rescue Team in Region 1, which is one of four such teams in Idaho. As part of that effort, Tysdal served as a subject matter expert and instructor for all the technical-rescue disciplines, according to the release.
As engineer, Tysdal drove the fire trucks that responded to emergency scenes.
"There is not an Engineer of our fire apparatus in the last 15-20 years who didn't have Dave as a mentor," the release states. "He was an advocate for ensuring professional skills development and abilities within the rank of Engineer."
In 2016, Dave was honored as Employee of the Year, a reflection of his exceptional dedication and leadership. Most recently, he was nominated to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the attack on Canfield Mountain.
Tysdal responded that day about 1:40 p.m. with Morrison and Harwood at the upper parking lot of Canfield Mountain.
The firefighters encountered Roley standing next to his truck. They apparently asked Roley to move his pickup, which was parked near a gate where fire trucks would need to pass.
The dash-mounted video footage shows Roley standing behind his pickup as Tysdal walks past him, apparently after unlocking a gate to allow fire equipment to drive farther up the road.
"At approximately 1:50 p.m., the suspect, who had lied in wait, intentionally attempted to murder Dave Tysdal," Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said last year.
Tysdal, who was 47 at the time, suffered a gunshot wound to the back. The slug punctured a lung, broke a couple of ribs and crushed his collar bone.
Roley then shot Morrison and Harwood, Norris said.
"Those firefighters died instantly and simultaneously," Norris said.
Some five other firefighters had already passed the upper parking lot and were up the hill trying to locate the fire. Four dirt bike riders also were forced to shelter in place after the shooting started, Norris said.
Apparently, nobody knew, including the firefighters up the hill, nor the bystanders who called 911, that Roley had shot the three firefighters.
That all changed about 2:01 p.m. when Battalion Chief Weidenhoff entered the parking lot and saw what appeared to be Tysdal on the ground working on a fire rig.
Tysdal somehow alerted Weidenhoff to the danger, and he then made the radio call that prompted a massive emergency response.
"SEND LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT NOW. THERE'S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER ZONE," Weidenhoff screamed into his mic. "EVERYBODY'S SHOT UP HERE. LAW ENFORCEMENT, CODE 3 NOW UP HERE."
As Weidenhoff made calls, Tysdal was able to give descriptions of the shooter. But eventually, his voice became unintelligible.
"Dave couldn't move," department spokesman Erik Loney said last year. "He was queuing his lapel mic with his chin. So by the grace of God, his mic ended up near his face. That's how he was able to communicate."
As Tysdal rehabilitated his injuries in Colorado, his crew eagerly awaited his return.
"The thing about a department this size, we are only 63 people," Hyder said last year. "We all know each other. There is no one in the department you don't know pretty darn well. You know most of the people's children's names. If you don't know their names, you know how many children they have."
Tysdal has a teenage son and two girls who are twins. Loney said his wife hasn't left his side since the shooting.
Hyder said that Tysdal remains part of the family.
"When the children come to the station, Dave loved seeing them. But when you talk to them about firefighters and you tell them what the firefighter profession is, that's what Dave is," Hyder said. "Dave is that model firefighter, model citizen, model husband, model friend."
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