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 Tompkins
Delaware County
Plane Crash: On June 30, at 2:30 p.m., Delaware County requested Forest Ranger search assistance for a plane crash in the area of Herrick Hollow Road. Ranger Laymon organized the search efforts, working with DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County Emergency Management, New York State Police, and numerous volunteer fire departments. Between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., crews found pieces of the wings and tail. At 5:30 p.m., Ranger Seeley helped organize additional search crews and found more pieces of the plane. At 8:35 p.m., Rangers and NYCDEP Officers found the rest of the wreckage and determined all five people on board were deceased. The following day, Rangers returned to the scene to assist other agencies. The subjects were extricated and turned over to the coroner.
Plane crash in Tompkins County
City of Albany
Albany County
Prescribed Fires: On July 2, Forest Ranger Rusher along with staff and volunteers from DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests, Albany Pine Bush, and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation conducted a prescribed fire on 12 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.
Albany Pine Bush prescribed fire crew
Prescribed fire at Albany Pine Bush
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 3 at 3:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with an ankle injury two miles in on the Street Mountain trail. While hiking in to the 26-year-old from Rochester, Forest Ranger O’Connor spoke to a hiking party who had wrapped the subject’s ankle with a bandage. Ranger O’Connor splinted the subject’s ankle and helped him down the trail. Rangers Duchene, Lewis, O’Connor, and Praczkajlo paddled the subject across Heart Lake where he was met by a Lake Placid ambulance. Resources were clear at 6:34 p.m.
Town of Shandaken
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 4, at 12:15 p.m., Frost Valley YMCA called Forest Ranger Martin about a camper who had fainted multiple times over the last 24 hours. The 16-year-old was with a group on Terrace Mountain. Rangers reached the group at 1:15 p.m., and assisted them to the Woodland Valley parking area. The subject suffered a short fainting spell during the hike out. Shandaken Paramedics transported the subject to the hospital. Resources were clear at 4:20 p.m.
Town of Russia
Herkimer County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 4, at 1:45 p.m., Forest Rangers Murphy and Stone responded to a call for a subject having a seizure on Beer Can Beach on the Hinckley Reservoir. Rangers cleared some fallen trees and limbs along the trail so volunteer fire departments could drive emergency UTVs to the beach. Rescuers stabilized the subject and transported her by boat across the reservoir to the boat launch where a Kuyahoora Ambulance was waiting. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.
Town of Greenfield
Saratoga County
Firearm Search: On July 4, at 4:35 p.m., Forest Rangers received a report of a gun on State land at Archer Vly Pond. Ranger Hamm searched the water, and at 5:08 p.m., found the firearm. Ranger Hamm turned the weapon over to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.
Searching for firearm
Ranger Hamm finds firearm
Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Water Recovery: On July 4, at 11:24 p.m., Franklin County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a suspected drowning in Long Lake. Two individuals jumped into the water at a marina at 10 p.m. and neither could be located. Rangers Nahor, Scott, and Snye searched overnight, and one swimmer was located out of the water. At 9:30 a.m., dive teams found the second swimmer, a 66-year-old from Slingerlands, deceased. The subject was turned over to the coroner.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 4, at 11:48 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 about a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on Giant Mountain approximately half a mile above the washbowl. Forest Rangers Praczkajlo and Rooney reached the 52-year-old from Kinderhook at 1:15 a.m. and helped him down to the trailhead. The subject decided to seek further medical attention on his own. Resources were clear at 5:15 a.m.
Hemlock Lake
Livingston County
Law Enforcement: On July 5, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Kennedy and Rangers Cordell and Richer conducted boat safety checks at Hemlock-Canadice Lake State Forest. Rangers checked for safety equipment such as life jackets and patrolled the lake for compliance with other regulations. Rangers conducted 35 compliance checks and issued several warnings and one ticket.
Boat safety checks on Hemlock Lake
Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5, at 3:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker suffering from exhaustion on Ampersand Mountain. Forest Rangers Curcio and O’Connor reached the 50-year-old at 5:20 p.m. and helped her back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 11 p.m.
Town of Dannemora
Clinton County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5, at 5 p.m., Clinton County 911 called Forest Ranger Odell about a hiker suffering from exhaustion and dehydration on Lyon Mountain, approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead. Rangers Adams, Duchene, Lewis, and Odell helped the subject back to the trailhead and turned her over to EMS. Resources were clear at 8:05 p.m.
Rangers rescue hiker on Mount Lyon
Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On July 5, at 6:51 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a 911 text from Essex County about two hikers lost between Mount Marcy and Upper Ausable Lake. Forest Rangers Duchene, Lewis, Martin, and Praczkajlo reached the subjects at 11:50 p.m., and helped them back to Adirondack Mountain Reserve.
Town of Brookhaven
Suffolk County
Despondent Individual: On July 5, at 9:50 p.m., while patrolling Rocky Point State Forest, Forest Ranger Hicks came across a despondent subject trying to harm herself in her car. Ranger Hicks and Suffolk County Police helped the subject out of the car. She was then transported to the hospital.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, help is available. 988 is a free 24-hour hotline to call or text anywhere in New York. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5, at 10:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a knee injury on the Mount Van Hoevenberg trail near Phelps Mountain. Assistant Forest Ranger Patnode reached the 57-year-old from Walton and assisted him to the Marcy Dam outpost. By 12:45 a.m., Forest Rangers reached and rehydrated the hiker, and helped him back to his vehicle.
Town of Bolton
Warren County
Rattlesnake Moved: On July 6, at 3:35 a.m., Forest Rangers Donnegan and Kabrehl responded to a call from campers who had found a rattlesnake in their lean-to. Rangers removed and relocated the snake nearby so the campers could retrieve their gear.
Rattlesnake in lean-to
Rangers move rattlesnake
Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 6, at 4:05 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker with a leg injury on Ampersand Mountain. At 5:29 p.m., Rangers O’Connor and Praczkajlo reached the 45-year-old from Manhattan and assisted her back to the trailhead. The subject decided to seek further medical attention on her own. Resources were clear at 6:31 p.m.
Hiker with leg injury on Ampersand Mountain
Town of Colton
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 7, at 2:06 p.m., Forest Rangers Dempf and Emerson responded to a climbing accident at Snow Bowl State Forest. The 42-year-old from Massena had fallen approximately 30 feet. Rangers provided first aid. New York State Police, and the Colton, Hannawa, Parishville, and Pierrepont Fire Departments helped carry the subject to a LifeNet helicopter that flew him to the hospital at 4:34 p.m.
Town of Kent
Putnam County
Water Rescue: On July 7, at 2:40 p.m., while on canoe patrol on White Pond, Forest Ranger Cowart observed a subject in the water clinging to another person’s kayak. The subject had rolled his canoe, was unable to flip it back over, and unable to swim but was able to grab the kayak. The subject was wearing a personal floatation device. Ranger Cowart used a throw rope for the subject and tied it to the kayak. Ranger Cowart and the kayaker towed the subject one-half mile to shore.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 8 at 12:09 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker with an unstable ankle injury one-half mile from the summit of Cascade Mountain. Forest Rangers Foutch and Rooney splinted the subject’s ankle and helped her back to her vehicle. Resources were clear at 3:20 p.m.
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.
