Wildland firefighter from Oregon who was missing near Fairbanks found alive

A wildland firefighter from Oregon who was reported missing Thursday in Alaska’s Interior area has been found alive, a fire official said.

Salem resident Saudith Rendon, 51, had traveled north with the Oregon Wildland Fire Hand Crew to help fight the Lost Horse Creek Fire north of Fairbanks, the state Division of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement. He was reported missing Thursday morning after failing to meet up with the rest of his crew to drive to the fire from the Olnes Pond Campground along the Elliott Highway, the division said.

A spokesperson for the Alaska Interagency Management Team said Rendon was found around 5:30 p.m. In an updated statement Thursday evening, the forestry division said he was assessed by medical personnel on the scene and was being taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in “stable condition.”

According to the forestry division, Rendon had gone missing after he had last been seen cooking breakfast around 6:30 a.m. Thursday at the campground, which is being used to stage fire personnel.

An Alaska Incident Management team worked to locate Rendon in coordination with troopers, state parks officials, and Alaska Wilderness Search and Rescue.

The Lost Horse Creek Fire has been burning north of Fairbanks since July 28. As of Thursday, fire officials reported it was burning just over 9,500 acres and was 16% contained. Officials on Wednesday lowered the evacuation status in the area.