New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate, and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.
In 2023, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 370 search and rescue missions, extinguished 146 wildfires covering nearly 1,400 acres, participated in 52 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,000 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests.
“Whether they are leading complex search and rescue incidents, suppressing wildfires, enforcing laws on State lands and easem*nts, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, or encouraging responsible recreation, Forest Rangers stand ready to help when called,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Forest Rangers’ wide-ranging expertise and collaboration with local, State, and federal partners are instrumental in protecting New York’s public lands and the many visitors who use them.”
Village of Northville
Fulton County
Public Outreach: On June 1, Forest Ranger Hamm joined Smokey Bear to celebrate National Trails Day and the 100th anniversary of the Northville-Placid Trail in the village of Northville. Ranger Hamm and Smokey Bear taught visitors about fire safety and the various tools Forest Rangers use for fire suppression and search and rescue. The event included a children’s fishing derby, local vendors, live music, fireworks, and a trolley ride around the village.
Ranger Hamm and Smokey Bear in Northville
Town of Guilderland
Albany County
Prescribed Fires: On June 3, Forest Rangers Jackson and Laymon joined staff and volunteers from DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests, Albany Pine Bush, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a prescribed fire on 34 acres in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. These burns are regulated by law and regulation and require technical expertise to conduct safely. Controlled burns help prevent the spread of invasive species, and in some areas, prescribed fire is also used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other fuel to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.
Prescribed fire at Albany Pine Bush
Prescribed fire at Albany Pine Bush
Albany Pine Bush prescribed fire crew
Town of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 4 at 2:05 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a subject with an unstable ankle injury in the Shelving Rock area. Forest Rangers Donegan, Geyer, and Hess, along with Fort Ann EMS, reached the 23-year-old from Saratoga Springs and splinted her ankle. Rescue crews packaged the subject into a litter and brought her to a waiting ambulance at 4 p.m.
Hamlet of Pottersville
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 5 at 10:43 a.m., Forest Rangers Geyer and Morehouse responded to a report of a subject with a broken leg at Scaroon Manor. The 72-year-old from Monroe was approximately one-quarter mile from a trail. Rangers, campground staff, DEC Operations, and EMS reached the subject and at 11:34 a.m., and brought her to a waiting North Warren ambulance.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 6 at 8 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received two calls from hikers reporting an elderly hiker in distress on the Van Ho Trail. Hikers indicated the 79-year-old from Texas was on the second day of a solo hike up Mount Marcy and appeared unprepared and disoriented. Seven Forest Rangers responded. At 1:30 p.m., Rangers reached the subject and helped him down to Marcy Dam. The subject said he lost the trail overnight.
Rangers Praczkajlo and O'Connor with Mt. Marcy hiker
Town of Russia
Herkimer County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 6 at 3:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with a disoriented hiker on Hinckley State Forest. While en route, Ranger Stone made contact with the 76-year-old from New York Mills. The subject stated he did not need medical assistance but was uncertain which trail he was on. At 4:36 p.m., Rangers found the hiker and escorted him out of the woods.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 6 at 4:54 p.m., a group of five college students at the Feldspar lean-to contacted the Adirondak Loj to report two hikers in their group were sick and one of the two had hurt their leg in a fall. Five Forest Rangers responded, reached the 19-year-old from Vermont and 20-year-old from Texas. One of the hikers was experiencing diabetic issues. Rangers provided glucose to assist and helped the hikers back to the trailhead.
Hamlet of Wanakena
St. Lawrence County
Ranger Academy: On June 7, nine Forest Ranger Recruits were officially sworn in at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School. The 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers completed week three of training.
Ranger Recruits sworn in
Town of Burke
Franklin County
Fugitive Search: On June 7 at 6:10 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for three suspects involved in a stolen vehicle case. Two of the individuals were believed to be armed with long guns. Of the four suspects total, one was already in police custody. By 8:10 p.m., Police caught a second suspect and recovered one firearm.On June 8 at 8:50 a.m., Ranger Russell spotted the two suspects running across a field. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Aviation and Ranger Balerno established visual contact. Multi-agency resources tightened the search perimeter. At 10:50 a.m., Rangers and the NYSP Special Operations Response Team located the remaining suspects hiding in a camper. The suspects were taken into custody without further incident. NYSP charged the parties, who are all teens, with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and Resisting Arrest. The subjects were arraigned in the Youth Part of Franklin County Criminal Court.
Fugitive search
Fugitive search
Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC'sHike Smart NY,Adirondack Backcountry Information, andCatskill Backcountry Informationwebpages for more information.
If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it's for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easem*nts, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.
