Firefighters assigned to one of several boats dispatched to Loyalsock Creek late Saturday morning, search for a missing kayaker. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette

More than two dozen emergency responders spent much of Saturday looking for a missing kayaker in Loyalsock Creek before calling off the search at 6 p.m.

The kayaker was on one of two kayaks that upset in an area called “the rapids,” about a half a mile south of Broad Street in Montoursville, officials said.

With no sight of the kayaker by 6 p.m., it was feared that he had drowned, said one fire officer.

“There were three kayakers, two riding in one kayak and one in another. Both upset in the rapids,” said one responder. “The two riding together made it to shore, but the one riding alone is unaccounted for at this time,” the responder told the Sun-Gazette about 2:30 p.m. as the search continued.

City firefighters Matt Swartz, left, and Trevor Stroble recover one of two kayaks that upset Saturday in Loyalsock Creek, south of Montoursville. Two occupants in this kayak made it safely to shore. A third kayaker, riding solo in another, was missing. The search was ongoing. The second kayak was also recovered. Both sustained extensive damage when they upset in "the rapids," according to a water conservation officer. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette

Firefighters, paramedics as well as borough and state police were dispatched to the 500 block of Mill Street in the borough about 11:15 a.m. for a missing kayaker.

Among those responding were numerous boats from several communities, including Williamsport, South Williamsport, Montgomery Emergency Management, Clinton Township and Picture Rocks.

Returing from a medical run, a crew assigned to Geisinger’s Life Flight helicopter did a flyover of where the kayaker was last seen, but nothing was spotted in the creek, a spokesman said

“The kayakers entered the water upstream and started floating down. They were in the water a short period of time before they upset,” the spokesman said.

The rapids consist of tree branches, and the kayakers got caught up in that,” he added. All kayaks have been recovered.

With the Montoursville railroad bridge in the background, Clinton Township Volunteer firefighters head down Mill Street to Loyalsock Creek to assist with the search for missing kayaker. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette

Hunter Shoemaker, a water conservation officer with the district office of the Pennsylvania Fish Boat Commission, is leading the investigation.

“Rapids consist of strainers, down branches in the water. It’s a serious hazard to any paddle craft. Firefighters are cutting the branches. It’s about 200 yards from this access point on Mill Lane,” Shoemaker said at a command post that had been set up along the creek.

Drones from DuBoistown and Old Lycoming Township were used by firefighters during the search.

The search will resume Sunday morning with “additional state and regional resources due to the swift and rapid-moving water,” a fire officer said.