Arizona corrections officer dies during wildfire detail

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A corrections officer died while helping battle a wildfire in western Arizona Wednesday. The Arizona Department of Corrections said officer Douglas Falconer, 46, collapsed Wednesday afternoon while supervising inmates assigned to the "Sacramento Fire" burning on the Havasu Wildlife Refuge near the Colorado River community of Topock.

"He expired from apparent natural causes shortly after the crew began working the fire line," said corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux. "Officers and inmates alike responded immediately and emergency medical assistance made every effort to revive Officer Falconer."

Crews were conducting mop-up operations Thursday on the fire that had covered more than 300 acres of marsh vegetation and underbrush since it ignited Monday night. No structures were threatened and personnel conducted initial back burning operations to ensure that the fire would not spread to the Topock Marina.

Lamoreaux said Falconer joined the department in 2004 and was assigned to the agency's Phoenix Globe unit.