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 Hunter 
Greene County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 8, at 12:50 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call for a hiker who fell approximately 40 feet off the ledge at Catskill Mountain House site in the North/South Lake campground. Bystanders heard the subject yelling for help and notified campground staff. Nine Forest Rangers worked with Hunter Ambulance, Greene Paramedics, Haines Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Tannersville Volunteer Fire Department, Hunter Police, New York State Police, and campground staff on the rescue operation. Rangers set up a high angle rope system to extricate the 49-year-old from Hunter. At 5 p.m., rescue crews successfully extricated the patient. Crews brought the subject to a LifeNet helicopter for transport to the hospital. 

Town of Indian Lake 
Hamilton County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 9, at 6 p.m., Forest Ranger Milano responded to a call for a 14-year-old hiker from Massachusetts suffering from heat exhaustion at OK Slip Falls. The subject’s group leader attempted to cool him down, but he was still hot and having an anxiety attack. Ranger Milano worked with Indian Lake Fire Department to treat the subject, calm and cool him down, and then walked him out to an awaiting ambulance. Resources were clear at 9 p.m. 

Town of North Elba 
Essex County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 9, at 10:10 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 about a pair of hikers lost on the Mount Marcy trail. The Marcy Dam Caretaker reached the 18-year-old and 19-year-old from Canada. The hikers did not have headlamps, food, or water. One of their phones was dead and the other was at only five percent. Caretaker Lanthier hiked them back to the trailhead and Forest Ranger Evans helped the subjects back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 1:15 a.m. 

Village of Lowville 
Lewis County 
Storm Response: On July 10, at 6:03 p.m., Lewis County requested Forest Ranger assistance for flood response in Lowville. Rangers Evans, Lee, and Maxwell helped with traffic control, checked on road and bridge washouts, assisted stuck motorists, and helped clear flooded basements. Rangers continued working on storm response the following day. 

Town of Brasher 
St. Lawrence County 
Wilderness Search: On July 10, at 7:30 p.m., the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a 24-year-old subject with reported mental health issues who ran out of his residence into Brasher State Forest at 12 p.m. At 9 p.m., Ranger Dempf located the subject on Bush Road. The subject said he was lost in the woods, wet, cold, and hungry. Ranger Dempf warmed the subject, provided food and water, and turned him over to Sheriff’s Deputies for further evaluation. 

Town of Ulysses 
Tompkins County 
Wilderness Search: On July 10, at 8:05 p.m., the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a 92-year-old despondent subject. The subject’s vehicle was located in Taughannock Falls State Park. Six Rangers joined New York State Police, New York State Parks Police, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department in the search. The following day at 3:10 p.m., Rangers found the subject approximately five feet from the edge of the gorge in Taughannock Falls State Park. Rangers walked him to the parking lot where he was checked out by Trumansburg EMS.  

Town of Keene 
Essex County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 10, at 9:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a group of hikers who lost the trail on Giant Mountain. At 1:08 a.m., Forest Rangers Praczkajlo and Rooney reached the hikers’ original coordinates but only found abandoned gear. Two hikers, a 21-year-old and 16-year-old, got separated from the other five hikers. At 2:53 a.m., Ranger Martin found the group of five, but the other two were still missing. Rangers followed the hiker’s tracks south along Putnam Brook and at 8:45 a.m., Rangers found the two subjects and helped them hike out. At 9:20 a.m., the entire group of seven was back at the trailhead. A short video of the wet and treacherous conditions that the 10 Rangers encountered is available to download.  

Town of Santa Clara 
Franklin County 
Water Rescue: On July 12, at 2:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a 911 text message from Franklin County about multiple overturned boats and six injured subjects on the St. Regis River about two miles south of the Santa Clara boat launch. The subjects indicated they were floating down the river, further away from the boat launch. Forest Rangers Baldwin, Bowler, Corey, and Curcio responded. At 4:30 p.m., Rangers located and helped all six subjects out of the water. They only had four of their kayaks and two paddles left. Rangers drove them back to the boat launch. The subjects were exhausted but did not require further medical attention. 

Town of North Elba 
Essex County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 12, at 1:55 p.m., the Mount Marcy Summit Steward called for help for a hiker from Rochester with an unstable leg injury about a half a mile from the summit. New York State Police Aviation Pilot Engel was called in to assist. Ranger Praczkajlo was lowered to the subject and harnessed him for a hoist. Ranger Lewis hoisted the subject into the helicopter which flew him to the hospital. Resources were clear at 3:22 p.m. Video of the hoist rescue is available to download. 

Town of Johnsburg 
Warren County 
Water Recovery: On July 12, at 8:25 p.m., Warren County requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for an overturned kayaker on the Hudson River. The 67-year-old from Indiana was not wearing a personal floatation device. Eleven Rangers responded with an air boat, inflatable rafts, and kayaks. LifeNet and New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation performed aerial searches. Search efforts were unsuccessful overnight.  

On July 13, at 8:02 a.m., Rangers located the kayak. The Warren County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team and multiple fire departments assisted in the search. Rangers and NYSP also used drones.  

On July 14, at 1:45 p.m., a Ranger in a NYSP helicopter found the subject deceased on the eastern side of the river in the town of Chester, approximately 13 miles from where he was last seen. The subject was transferred to the Warren County Coroner. 

Town of Yorktown 
Westchester County 
Public Outreach: On July 13, Forest Ranger Russo attended the Smokey Bear reading challenge at John C. Hart Library. Ranger Russo talked to children about the Forest Ranger job and wildfire prevention. Mohegan Fire Assistant Chief Gravius was joined by Sparky the Firehouse Dog to talk about fire safety in the home and when to call 911. Children got to try on Forest Ranger gear and explore the inside of the Mohegan fire truck. 

Town of Arietta 
Hamilton County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 14, at 1:50 p.m., Hamilton County 911 received an SOS beacon message from a subject with an ankle injury at the Sampson Lake lean-to, seven miles from the trailhead. The 25-year-old from Massachusetts was with four other individuals. At 5:50 p.m., Rangers located the subject, splinted his ankle and, with the help of his hiking party, carried him out to an ATV. At 9:20 p.m., Speculator EMS transported the subject to the hospital. 

Forest Ranger Exam: Anyone interested in becoming a Forest Ranger has a new opportunity. The next civil service exam is scheduled for Sept. 28. The application deadline is Aug. 14. View the examination announcement.   

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.