A 19-Year-Old Woman Sustains Significant Burns at Old Faithful in Yellowstone

This news story about a woman suffering significant thermal burns at Old Faithful in Yellowstone was adapted from a September 16, 2021, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here.

Bison and bears are not the only dangers to park visitors in Yellowstone, as a recent incident makes abundantly clear. Sometimes, it’s the visitors themselves who put themselves into harm’s way.

The incident involved a 19-year-old woman from Rhode Island, who received initial care from Yellowstone National Park rangers at Old Faithful on Thursday morning, September 16.

The woman, who was working in the park as a concessions employee, suffered second- and third-degree burns on 5% of her body.

Woman Sustains Significant Thermal Burns at Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Few details are known about this incident, which is still under investigation.

It is, however, quite likely that the woman wandered off the boardwalk at Old Faithful and fell through the often-shallow ground of the Upper Geyser Basin. It’s the only plausible way to get so seriously burned by scalding water in Yellowstone National Park.

Because of the severity of the injuries, the young woman was taken to West Yellowstone by ambulance. There, she was airlifted to the Burner Center at Easter Idaho Regional Medical Center.

The National Park Service posts numerous warning signs and hands out warning pamphlets to visitors, informing them about the dangers of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas.

There’s a reason why there are boardwalks at all major geyser basins in Yellowstone, and very few trails, if any.

“The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Everyone must always remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around thermal features.”

– National Park Service

The boardwalks protect both visitors and the thermal features of Yellowstone. It’s critically important to realize that the superheated water in and below these features is dangerous at best. It can be fatal at worst.

Always follow these guidelines and rules when exploring Yellowstone’s fascinating hydrothermal areas.

• Always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks.
• Do not touch thermal features or runoff.
• Swimming or soaking in hot springs is prohibited.
• Pets are prohibited in thermal areas.
• Do not throw objects into hot springs or other hydrothermal features.
• Toxic gases may accumulate to dangerous levels in some hydrothermal areas. If you begin to feel sick while exploring one of our geyser basins, leave the area immediately.

Careless People Regularly Suffer Serious or Fatal Burns in Yellowstone National Park

This is the first significant injury in a thermal area in 2021, but many incidents have occurred in recent years.

• In 2020, a 3-year-old suffered second-degree thermal burns to the lower body and back. The same year, 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.

In total, more than 20 visitors have died from burns after intentionally entering or accidentally falling into a hot spring. Many more people have gotten (seriously) injured.