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 2024, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 122 wildfires covering nearly 6,500 acres, participated in 60 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,155 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests.
“DEC’s Forest Rangers bravely protect our state owned and managed lands, as well as the people who use them. Whether it is a search and rescue call or a wildfire burning out of control, they are always ready when emergencies strike,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Every day and in all conditions, Rangers demonstrate their expertise and leadership in protecting the public and State lands, serving as role models for the next generation of environmental stewards. DEC encourages interested New Yorkers to visit DEC’s website to learn how to become the next New York State Forest Ranger.”
Town of Middlefield
Otsego County
Training: On March 10-12, Forest Rangers Cleinman, France, and Welch taught a Basic Wildland Fire Suppression course to 40 members of 13 volunteer fire departments. Rangers discussed their role in wildfire response and how they work with local fire departments during wildland fire incidents. Rangers also covered fire line safety and proper personal protection equipment (PPE) used while fighting a wildland fire and provided hands-on training with practice digging handline in the field.
Fire Training in Otsego County
Town of Italy
Yates County
Wilderness Rescue: On March 11 at 5:45 p.m., Forest Ranger Dormer responded to a report of two stranded hikers at Conklin Gully in Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area. Mud, erosion, and high-water flows made it difficult for the pair from Manchester and Farmington to return the way they had hiked in. The Ontario County High Angle Rope Team and the Yates County Rope Team worked with Ranger Dormer and fire departments from Benton, Bristol, Canandaigua, Cheshire, Dundee, Farmington, Honeoye, Middlesex, and Naples to set up a high angle rope system to extract the hikers. Rescuers rappelled down, secured the subjects, and brought them up 200 feet before the temperature dropped and darkness set in. Neither subject was injured, but both were evaluated by Naples Ambulance. Resources were clear at 8:30 p.m. Video of the rescue is available to download (video, 207 MB).
Rope rescue at Conklin Gully
Conklin Gully
Broome, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Steuben, Suffolk, Ulster, and Washington Counties
Wildland Fires: Between March 8 and 17, Forest Rangers responded to 25 fires in eight counties. The fires burned more than 558 acres of land. The largest fire was in Westhampton, Suffolk County measuring 424 acres. It started on March 8. By March 10, firefighters contained 100 percent of the fire. The fire was declared out on March 13. At least eight of the 25 fires were caused by debris burning. DEC reminds New Yorkers that the statewide brush burning ban is in effect until May 14.
Amenia fire, Dutchess County
Tuscarora fire, Steuben County
Westhampton fire, Suffolk County
Westhampton fire, Suffolk County
Hamlet of Marlboro
Ulster County
Public Outreach: On March 12, Forest Ranger Rusher met with Scout Troop 72 to help prepare scouts for receiving their Fire Safety Badge. Ranger Rusher reviewed causes and types of wildfires and discussed how different wildland fire tools are used.
Ranger Rusher with Troop 72
Town of Keene
Essex County
Operations Assistance: On March 13, DEC Operations staff were joined by Forest Rangers to bring a new cooking stove to the Lake Colden Outpost. The outpost is used by Rangers in the High Peaks Wilderness Area for shelter and warmth during remote search and rescue operations and is staffed by DEC Operations.
Lake Colden Outpost stove delivery
Town of Westport
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On March 14 at 2 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a New York State Police (NYSP) search for a male subject wanted for a parole violation in Vermont. Search crews located the subject’s car on a snowmobile trail. At 6:45 p.m., NYSP completed an aerial search with negative results. Rangers and Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) assisted with linear searches near the subject’s vehicle. The following day, search crews focused on recent tracks. A total of 18 Rangers and nine ECOs, including one K9, joined NYSP, Sheriff’s Deputies, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Aviation in the search from the air and the ground. At 1:37 p.m., a Sheriff’s Deputy and NYSP took the 48-year-old into custody.
Town of Lysander
Onondaga County
Law Enforcement: On March 14, Forest Rangers received a call while on patrol about two people were riding dirt bikes around Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area. Ranger Chappell responded to the area with ECO Yacavone and located the vehicle that transported the bikes and prevented the dirt bikes from riding further onto the wildlife management area. They issued several tickets for prohibited off-road motor vehicle use and other violations.
Riding prohibited motor vehicles
Village of Ballston Spa
Saratoga County
Search: On March 15 at 3:53 a.m., Ballston Spa Police requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing 12-year-old last seen at 9 p.m. Police conducted linear searches overnight. Forest Rangers began searching the area where the youth had last been seen, while also interviewing those who might know the subject’s whereabouts. At 7:45 a.m., a member of the public saw the boy walking south on Route 50. Ballston Spa Police brought him back to his residence.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On March 15 at 6:37 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch transferred a call to Forest Ranger O’Connor from two hikers on Whiteface Landing complaining of loss of feeling in their feet. Ranger O’Connor advised the hikers to continue moving one-half mile toward Lake Placid. Rangers O’Connor and Praczkajlo met the hikers there, provided feet warmers, and assisted them back to their vehicle. The 22-year-olds from Oswego and Martville were wearing cotton socks and were sinking their legs deeply into fresh, unpacked snow, creating a hole (or "post-hole") behind them as they walked without snowshoes, leading to cold feet. Rangers suggest hikers avoid any cotton clothing because it absorbs moisture and can advance frostbite. They also suggest using gaiters to prevent snow from getting into boots.
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.
