Firefighter missing at staging camp north of Fairbanks found alive

Update: Saudith Rendon has been found alive, authorities said. He was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

A member of an Oregon-based wildland firefighting crew has been reported missing by the Alaska Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. The disappearance of 51-year-old Saudith Rendon occurred in the area of the ongoing Lost Horse Creek fire located north of Fairbanks.

Rendon, who is with the Oregon Wildland Fire Hand Crew, failed to join his crew at their scheduled departure time at the Olnes Pond Campground, where firefighting teams have been stationed to battle the fire. Sources state that Rendon was last seen at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday inside the campground, which is not open to the public due to the ongoing firefighting operations.

The crew members were scheduled to meet up as usual following breakfast, board a bus, and head to the fire line. Rendon’s personal belongings remained at the campsite. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, green sweatshirt and green nomex pants. He is approximately 5’7″ and 185 lbs with curly hair and is believed to be on foot.

The DNR’s Division of Forestry and Fire Protection has initiated a search operation to locate Rendon and put out notifications on social media and through mass text messages.

Meanwhile, the Fairbanks North Star Borough changed the evacuation status from Level 2 (SET) to Level 1 (READY) for all areas impacted by the Lost Horse Creek Fire (#296). This includes all areas within the Haystack subdivision, Upper Haystack Drive, Sharmon Court, Middle Fork Road, and the Poker Flat Watershed.

Crews are closing in on meeting suppression objectives, according to the state’s latest report. Based on the most recent mapping of the fire perimeter and fire behavior, a target of 23% of the perimeter has been identified for containment.

Currently, 16% of the fire perimeter is contained. Crews are improving containment line by working deeper into the duff and into the burned area to extinguish heat. This work will continue until crews feel confident there is little-to-no chance of fire spread beyond the current perimeter. Work continues on the southwest corner to secure and close any remaining gaps in the southern containment line.

A two-mile-long contingency line was completed west of the fire and a second contingency line is in progress southeast of the fire from Haystack toward the Chatanika River. Crews are utilizing heavy equipment to start working on suppression repair to minimize soil erosion and other impacts.

Rain fell on most of the fire area on Wednesday. Gusty winds and scattered rain continue Thursday and Friday.