Wildland firefighters find Fairbanks man missing 19 days alive near Old Murphy Dome Road

A 73-year-old Fairbanks man who had been missing for 19 days was found alive by wildland firefighters, the Alaska State Troopers said. Rodney Rutherford was located Aug. 12 about half a mile off Old Murphy Dome Road, roughly two and a half miles from where he was last seen, and was in relatively good health, troopers said. He was taken to a Fairbanks area hospital for evaluation.

Rutherford was last seen near Murphy Dome Road about 11:30 p.m. July 24. Beginning July 25, troopers and Wildlife Troopers searched with ground crews and two helicopters, and the volunteer groups PAWS and WSAR searched the area without result, according to updates troopers posted on the case. Troopers thanked the public for its assistance.

The crew that found him was there to fight a fire. The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection said smokejumpers on the initial attack of the McCloud Fire (#472), west of Old Murphy Dome Road, discovered a lost individual, notified troopers, and the individual was escorted to medical assistance. The division's posting does not name the person, give an age or describe a condition.

The McCloud Fire was reported Wednesday, Aug. 12, the same day troopers say Rutherford was found. It was spotted from an aircraft burning in black spruce about 12.5 miles west of Fox and 6.5 miles north of Ester Dome, and eight smokejumpers, two helicopters and an engine were sent to it. No structures were threatened.

A six-member suppression module from Southwest Alaska arrived Wednesday night to assist the smokejumpers. Crews completed saw line and hose lays around the perimeter and declared the fire contained Thursday afternoon at one acre. Firefighters continued to monitor for remaining heat.

Burn permits have been suspended in the Fairbanks, Tok and Delta areas since Wednesday, Aug. 12, because of what the division called critical weather conditions. The division said the suspension stays in place until conditions improve.

Both accounts here come from agency postings. Neither Rutherford nor any of the firefighters who found him is quoted.