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 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 Albany
Albany County
Prescribed Burns: 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 safely conduct. Controlled burns help prevent the spread of invasive species, and in some areas, prescribed fire is 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 implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals. DEC conducted the following burn recently:
On May 27, Forest Rangers and additional DEC and Albany Pine Bush staff conducted a prescribed burn on more than 23 acres of the Albany Pine Bush in Albany County. Drone video of the burn is available to download (video, 77 MB).
Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn
Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn
Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn crew
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 27 at 5:10 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with an unstable leg injury one mile beyond Indian Pass Brook. Eight Forest Rangers and a paramedic responded and reached the patient by 9:25 p.m. The 26-year-old from Deposit had broken her leg in multiple places. Rangers and the paramedic stabilized the leg then packaged the hiker in a litter. Rangers used a backpack carrier system for the three-mile carryout through rocky terrain and ankle-deep water to an Essex County ambulance. Resources were clear at 3:07 a.m. Video of part of the rescue is available to download (video, 50 MB)
Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Law Enforcement: On May 27 at 6 p.m., Forest Rangers Milano and Snye responded to the Lake Durant Campground to assist with an eviction. The caretaker had reported loud campers had caused a disturbance the previous night. Rangers issued seven tickets for charges including underage alcohol possession and leaving a fire unattended. Rangers remained on site to ensure the campers cleaned the area before they left and were safe to drive.
Town of Windham
Greene County
Wilderness Search: On May 27 at 10:30 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford, Fox, and Peterson responded to a call for an overdue hiker last seen near the Blackhead Mountain summit at 1:30 p.m. Rangers searched with Windham Police and Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies. At 6:30 a.m., Rangers located the 24-year-old from Brooklyn walking down a drainage area, seven miles from his last known point. Rangers assessed the hiker for any medical concerns and provided a courtesy ride to his vehicle at the Big Hollow Road trailhead.
Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 28 at 4:15 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Baldwin about a group stranded on the north shore of Little Tupper Lake after their inflatable boat was punctured. Coordinates placed the group on site #1 on Little Tupper Lake. Ranger Baldwin and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Skibinski bushwhacked into the site and at 5:10 p.m., found two 21-year-olds from New Jersey. The pair told rescuers there was another person in their party in an inflatable boat heading toward site #4 where their party was camping. At 5:45 p.m., rescuers called the camping party and learned the third person in the boat had not returned. Ranger Baldwin flew his drone but could not find the missing boater. At 7:30 p.m., rescuers used an inflatable boat to search the north side of the lake while trying to make voice contact with the missing subject. Two additional Rangers responded to search the Burn Road trail. At 8:30 p.m., the campers reported to rescuers that the missing boater had arrived on foot. The 21-year-old from New Jersey reported he had gotten lost and was eventually picked up by a Good Samaritan who dropped him off at the trailhead.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 30 at 5:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who was off trail on Mount Jo. Forest Rangers called the 52-year-old hiker from Chittenango and guided him back to the trail over the phone. Rangers met the hiker to ensure he remained on trail and escorted him back to Adirondak Loj.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 31 at 4:20 p.m., Essex County 911 contacted Ray Brook Dispatch about a 911 text received from a hiker reporting he and his hiking partner were stranded due to rising stream levels on the Roaring Book trail in the Giant Mountain Wilderness. Forest Rangers hiked to the subjects’ location, helped them cross the brook, and escorted the hikers back to the trailhead.
Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 31 at 8 p.m., campers at the Hidden Cove lean-to called Ray Brook Dispatch to report they needed help getting out of their campsite due to a damaged boat. The site is only accessible by boat. Rangers Corey and Nahor responded to the Long Lake boat launch for a boat. By 9 p.m., Rangers extracted the campers from Bath, Steuben County, out of their campsite.
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.
