Sandra JoAnn Bachman
Incident
Assistant to the Deputy Warden Sandra Bachman was killed in a wildfire while overseeing prisoners who were detailed as a firefighting crew.
The crew had been deployed to a large wildfire in the Tonto National Forest near Payson, Arizona. They were overtaken by the a fire storm and suffered severe smoke inhalation. Assistant Bachman and five inmates died as a result. Several other inmates and firefighters suffered severe injuries.
Assistant Bachman had served with the Arizona Department of Corrections for seven years and was assigned to the San Pedro Unit at Perryville.
Survivors
She was survived by her mother, sister, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Assistant to the Deputy Warden Bachman gave the Arizona Department of Corrections 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant to the Deputy Warden Bachman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Arizona Department of Corrections has lost 10 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Sandra is one of 95 officers lost to accidents in AZ, 28.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Sandra is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Sandra is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1990, 3 officers in AZ were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 5.
In 1990, 66 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1990, 87 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Sandra was 43. Of the 92 lost to accidents in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 34.5. Sandra had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Sandra was 43. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Sandra had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Sandra was 43. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Sandra had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 10.5% of these deaths in AZ; November holds the most, 14.7%. Tuesdays: 13.7%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 10 deaths at Arizona Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Her people
Arizona Department of Corrections has 10 officers remembered here, Sandra among them.
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James Stiner
Sep 18, 1967
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Theodore James Buckley
Jun 22, 1973
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Dale Eldred Morey
Jun 22, 1973
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Paul W. Rast
Sep 7, 1975
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Sandra JoAnn Bachman
Jun 26, 1990
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Robert Kenneth Barchey
Nov 15, 1993
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Brent W. Lumley
Mar 7, 1997
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Gabriel B. Saucedo
Jun 2, 2005
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Douglas Eugene Falconer
Oct 1, 2008
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Paul Ray Nolasco, Jr.
May 25, 2020
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Arizona Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.








