JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A worker at Yellowstone National Park was burned significantly after falling through fragile surface at a thermal feature in the park.
The victim, described only as a 19-year-old female from Rhode Island who works as a concessioner in Yellowstone, suffered second- and third-degree burns to 5% of her body. Rangers responded to the incident at old Faithful early Thursday morning. Park rangers provided initial care before the patient was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone, and then life-flighted to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
The incident is under investigation.
Yellowstone officials say the incident is a reminder that ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Everyone should always stay on boardwalks and trails, and exercise extreme caution around thermal features.
This is the first significant injury in a thermal area in 2021.
In 2020, a three-year-old suffered second-degree-thermal burns to the lower body and back and a visitor (who illegally entered the park) fell into a thermal feature at Old Faithful while backing up and taking photos.
In September 2019, a man suffered severe burns after falling into thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser.
In June 2017, a man sustained severe burns after falling in a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin.
In June 2016, a man left the boardwalk and died after slipping into a hot spring in Norris Geyser Basin.
In August 2000, one person died and two people received severe burns from falling into a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin.
