The man who police believe killed two Idaho firefighters responding to a brush fire after starting the flames himself had wanted to pursue a career in the fire service, his grandfather told CNN.

The suspect who allegedly ambushed firefighters on the job Sunday in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, had contact and a brief discussion with them before opening fire with a shotgun, killing two and critically injuring a third,

Two firefighters were killed and one critically wounded in a northern Idaho shooting Sunday afternoon as they responded to a fire that authorities believe was intentionally started by the now-deceased gunman.