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 State-owned and managed lands, as well as the people who use them. Whether conducting a search and rescue call or responding to a wildfire burning out of control, Rangers are always ready when emergencies strike,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Every day and in all conditions, Forest 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.”
City of Olean
Cattaraugus County
Public Outreach: On May 8, Forest Ranger Skudlarek attended 2025 Cop Camp, a job fair hosted by BOCES at the Olean Recreation Center. Almost 150 students met members of law enforcement including New York State Police, New York State Park Police, the Cattaraugus and Monroe County Sheriff’s Departments, and the FBI. Ranger Skudlarek showed participating students the various gear used by Rangers in the field and explained the qualifications necessary to become a DEC Forest Ranger.
Ranger Skudlarek at Cop Camp
Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Recovery: On May 10 at 11 a.m., a hiking party reported finding human remains off the Mount Allen trail. At 1:25 p.m., Forest Rangers confirmed they were the remains of missing hiker, Leo DuFour. The 22-year-old was first reported missing in December 2024. In addition to a weeks-long Ranger-led search for DuFour last December, DEC, New York State Police, and agency partners continued searches this spring as snow receded across the Adirondack backcountry.
The DEC family offers our deepest condolences to the DuFour family for their loss and extends our appreciation to our dedicated Forest Rangers and partners for their tireless efforts during the continuous and active search effort over the last few months.
Town Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 10 at 4:36 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the daughter of a man who tripped and fell on Giant Mountain, injuring his knee and shoulder. The caller indicated the 55-year-old from New Hampshire also fainted from the sight of blood. After regaining consciousness, his daughter gave him water and snack bars. At 5:36 p.m., Forest Ranger Praczkajlo met the hiking party on the trail, performed a medical assessment, and determined the hiker was well enough to continue hiking back to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical attention.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 11 at 10:22 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker who suffered a significant leg injury in Kaaterskill Wild Forest. On May 12 at 1:24 a.m., a team of rescuers from Haines Falls Fire Department and Tannersville Rescue reached the 26-year-old from Sherburne. The patient was nearly 1,000 feet off trail on steep and slippery terrain. Ranger Dawson determined the safest way to rescue the hiker was with support from New York State Police Aviation at first light. Rangers Fox and Peterson stabilized the injury and kept the patient warm with a fire overnight. At 7:29 a.m., NYSP Pilots Bernardini and Leeder flew with Forest Ranger crew boss Cowart to the scene. Rangers Fox, Franceschina, and Martin prepared the hiker on the ground and Ranger Cowart successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. The pilots flew to a landing zone where crews transferred the subject to Med Flight for transport to Albany Medical Center. Resources were clear at 11:53 a.m.
Hunter overnight rescue
Hunter overnight rescue
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.
