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.”
Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 1 at 1:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Jefferey responded to Peekamoose Blue Hole for a report of an unconscious 13-year-old. Ranger Jefferey arrived and determined the child from Brooklyn was having a response to the cold water. The teenager was neck-deep in the water for approximately 10 minutes, got out, reported not feeling well, and then lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, the child was shivering uncontrollably and had a decreased pulse rate. Ranger Jefferey insulated the subject from the ground using a camp pad, wrapped the patient in two sleeping bags, and used a tarp for protection from a sudden thunderstorm. Ranger Rusher arrived and assisted walking out the patient to the roadway. A Grahamsville ambulance transported the subject and their father to the hospital. Resources were clear at 3:10 p.m.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 1 at 3:45 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call for a subject with a leg injury on Mount Jo. A Lake Placid Paramedic assisted with pain management. Rangers packaged the 34-year-old from Rochester in a litter and used backpack carriers to carry them out. A Lake Placid ambulance transported the patient to the hospital. Resources were clear at 5:28 p.m. Video of part of the rescue is available to download (video, 15MB).
Mount Jo rescue
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 2, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a shoulder injury on the Mount Colden trail. Colden Caretaker Raudonis responded from the East River Trail campsite. Forest Ranger Lewis contacted the 63-year-old from Maryland via phone and learned the subject’s fingers were getting numb, making the rescue more urgent. New York State Police Pilot Engel flew Rangers H. Praczkajlo and R. Praczkajlo to the Lake Colden outpost. Ranger H. Praczkajlo used the caretaker boat to cross Lake Colden. Caretaker Raudonis massaged the subject’s shoulder so Ranger H. Praczkajlo could reduce the shoulder dislocation before wrapping the injured arm in a sling. Caretaker Raudonis rowed the subject back to the outpost where the helicopter transported him to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7 p.m.
Caretaker Raudonis on Mount Colden rescue
Mount Colden helicopter rescue
Town of Warrensburg
Warren County
Ranger Promotion: On July 3, two Forest Rangers were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Rangers Baldwin and Snye, both based out of DEC’s Adirondack Region 5, were officially pinned as Lieutenants by Captains Ganswindt and Geesler. In Central Office, Ranger John Gullen was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Left: Captain Ganswindt pins Lt. Baldwin, Right: Captain Geesler pins Lt. Snye
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 4 at 4 p.m., Greene County Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker having a seizure at the summit of Hunter Mountain. At 5:28 p.m., Rangers reached the subject at the Hunter Mountain fire tower. Rangers walked out with the subject and helped them to an ambulance for transport to Kingston Hospital. Resources were clear at 7:30 p.m.
Town of Pomfret
Chautauqua County
Wilderness Search: On July 5 at 10 a.m., Chautauqua County requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing six-year-old. The child’s mother reported them missing after they wandered into forested land behind a playset at the Fredonia BOCES campus. Ranger Skudlarek established an Incident Command with Fredonia Police and assigned members of Chautauqua County’s volunteer search team, fire department volunteers, New York State Police, and Sheriff’s Deputies to different search areas, including a lookout on the Porter Road Bridge. At 11:50 a.m., a search crew located the subject in good health in the Canadaway creek bed.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5 at 4:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Garmin about an SOS beacon near Mount Marshall in Cold Brook Pass. Forest Ranger attempts to reach the subject through the app were unsuccessful. Ranger H. Praczkajlo hiked in from Adirondak Loj while Ranger Lewis was lowered in by New York State Police helicopter. Ranger H. Praczkajlo located the 30-year-old from Quebec on the Indian Pass trail. The subject stated they lost the trail multiple times and began to panic. Ranger H. Praczkajlo escorted the subject to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 7:05 p.m.
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5 at 4:35 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker with an unstable leg injury on Whiteface Mountain. The 44-year-old from Elmhurst hiked up from the ski center. Coordinates placed the subject approximately 400 feet off an access road. Forest Rangers Adams, Black, DuChene, and Holdridge stabilized the injury, packaged the subject into a litter, and carried them a short way to an ATV. They drove the hiker to their vehicle where the hiker decided to seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 6:45 p.m.
Rangers on their way to Whiteface Mountain rescue
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5 at 4:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a second call from Whiteface Mountain from a 17-year-old and 28-year-old from Buffalo stating they were lost, only had a seven-percent charge left on their cell phone, and had no other light source. Coordinates placed the pair approximately 300 feet off trail. Rangers from the previous Whiteface Mountain incident joined other Rangers in the search. A New York State Police helicopter standing down from a Mount Marshall rescue also attempted to get a visual on the subjects. At 7:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 stating the two subjects had reached State Route 86 and no longer needed assistance.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 5 at 8 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call from a distressed and unprepared hiker on the Hopkins trail. At 11:38 p.m., Rangers DuChene and R. Praczkajlo reached the subject on the Mt. Van Hoevenberg trail and escorted them back to the Adirondak Loj trailhead.
Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 6 at 12 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received radio transmission from the Great Camp Santanoni for a subject with a head injury after a bicycle accident. Forest Rangers J. Martin and Sabo assisted the subject back to the trailhead where they were met by Newcomb EMS.
Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On July 6 at 2 p.m., Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department (SLVFD) transported Forest Rangers by boat to respond to a report of a campfire that spread into the woods on Middle Saranac Islands campsite 77. SLVFD members Boon, Mayville, Foster, and Rutledge set up portable pumps to contain the fire to a tenth of an acre. Rangers and an Assistant Forest Ranger assisted in the mop up of the fire.
Harrietstown fire
Harrietstown fire
Town of Clifton
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 6 at 4:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Garmin reporting an SOS beacon on Cranberry Lake. Garmin transferred the caller directly to Ray Brook Dispatch. The 36-year-old from Syracuse had a leg injury and could not continue hiking the Cranberry Lake 50. Forest Rangers Emerson and Jansen responded via boat, stabilized the injury, and transported the patient across the lake and back to their vehicle.
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.
