DEC Forest Rangers -- Week in Review

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 easements, 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.” 

Town of Bath, Village of Lowville, and City of Watertown 
Jefferson, Lewis, and Steuben Counties 
Public Outreach: On Dec. 11, Forest Rangers Raffaldi-Smith and Richer participated in the annual “Shop with a Cop” event in Bath. Children sat in police cars from Hammondsport Police, the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, and DEC Forest Rangers. Then the law enforcement Officers took participating children on shopping trips. After items were selected, Officers helped wrap the presents. 

On Dec. 14, Forest Ranger Maxwell participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event in Lowville. Ranger Maxwell joined the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement to help children go shopping for the holidays. 

On Dec. 15, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Thomes and Ranger Cooley participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event in Watertown. The Rangers joined New York State Police, Watertown Police, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. 

Ranger Richer at Shop with a Cop in Steuben County 

Forest Ranger Maxwell at Shop with a Cop in Lewis County

Ranger Cooley and Lt. Thomes at Shop with a Cop in Jefferson County

Town of Ellicott 
Chautauqua County 
Wildland Fire: On Dec. 14 at 2:50 p.m., Forest Rangers Hale and Streczywilk responded to a slash pile fire. Additional fire departments were on scene putting water on the quarter-acre fire. An excavator was utilized to dig a line around the fire to prevent it from spreading any further. By 6:45 p.m., the fire was contained. 

Ellicott fire

 

Town of Blenheim 
Schoharie County 
Search: On Dec. 15 at 1:02 a.m., the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a potentially despondent subject in Blenheim State Forest. Forest Rangers joined the overnight search efforts. Working with Sheriff’s Deputies, Rangers followed tracks in the snow but lost the tracks due to intermittent snow coverage. At 8:11 a.m., with eight Rangers on the search, Ranger Fox located new tracks near an old logging road and located the 29-year-old subject. Ranger Fox helped the individual out to a waiting ambulance; the subject was treated for frostbite. 

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages 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 easements, 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.