Columbia Falls man dies of apparent heart attack while fighting fire

The body of a 66-year-old Flathead Valley man was found near a 40-acre fire that started as a controlled burn near Columbia Falls.

Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Leib says William Meeks apparently set the fire Tuesday evening, but it got out of control. Meeks’ body was found Wednesday morning near the head of the fire.

Leib says the retired police officer from Long Beach, Calif., likely over-exerted himself while trying to fight the fire and died of a heart attack.