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 2025, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets and arrests. Also in 2025, 41 Forest Rangers were deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states.
“Our Forest Rangers are elite law enforcement leaders who put their lives on the line when they respond to a search and rescue, wildland fire, or State land violation,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “We’re fortunate to have them patrolling State lands and keeping people safe. Their expertise and professionalism are valuable assets, not only in New York, but around the country wherever emergencies arise.”
Hamlet of Fort Montgomery
Orange County
Public Outreach: On April 14, Forest Rangers Grillo and Kocher met with 12 members of a local Girls Scouts Brownie Troop at West Point. Rangers showed the Troop some of their gear and patrol vehicles and explained what it takes to become a Forest Ranger. Rangers also discussed the 10 hiking essentials and some tips to safely engage in outdoor adventures.
Rangers Grillo and Kocher with Brownie Troop
Ranger Grillo shows Brownie Troop gear and vehicle
Town of Hyde Park
Dutchess County
Training: On April 20, Forest Ranger Grillo taught a wildland fire refresher course to the Fairview and Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Departments. After a classroom session, firefighters participated in a mock fire scenario at Mills Norrie State Park. They created a fire line with various firefighting tools.
Wildland fire training in Hyde Park
Towns of Brookhaven, Hornby, Louisville, Lysander, Orange, Rathbone, Riverhead, Rush, Stillwater, and Worcester and the City of Albany
Albany, Monroe, Onondaga, Otsego, Saratoga, Schuyler, Steuben, St. Lawrence, and Suffolk Counties
Prescribed Fires: On April 20 and 21, nine Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and Central Pine Barrens Commission to conduct controlled burns of 104 acres in Otis Pine Barrens State Forest in Riverhead.
On April 21, nine Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and New York State Fire Wardens to conduct a controlled burn of 43 acres at Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area in Rathbone.
Also on April 21, two Forest Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and the National Park Service to conduct a controlled burn of 73 acres at Saratoga National Historic Park in Stillwater.
On April 21 and 22, seven Rangers joined staff from DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests to conduct controlled burns of 39 acres at Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area in Louisville.
On April 21 and 23, seven Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests to conduct controlled burns of 50.1 acres at Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in Lysander.
On April 23 and 24 seven Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, Brookhaven National Lab, Central Pine Barrens Commission, and The Nature Conservancy to conduct a controlled burn of 114 acres in Rocky Point Pine Barren State Forest in Brookhaven.
On April 23, eight Rangers joined staff from DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and State Fire Wardens to conduct a controlled burn of 50 acres at Rush Oak Openings Unique Area in Rush.
On April 24, six Rangers joined staff from DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and State Fire Wardens to conduct a controlled burn of 5 acres in West Hill State Forest in Hornby.
Also on April 24, six Rangers joined staff from DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and State Fire Wardens to conduct a controlled burn of 9 acres in Coon Hollow State Forest in Orange.
On April 24 and 27, Rangers joined DEC and Albany Pine Bush staff to conduct controlled burns of 96 acres at the Albany Pine Bush.
Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife.
DEC recently announced the beginning of prescribed fire season. 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 and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.
Louisville prescribed burn
Lysander prescribed burn
Hornby prescribed burn
Stillwater prescribed burn
Rush prescribed burn
Orange prescribed burn
Rathbone prescribed burn
Albany prescribed burn
Town of Riverhead
Suffolk County
Medical Emergency: On April 21 at 1:01 p.m., while working on a controlled burn, Forest Rangers learned of an unconscious person in a stopped car on State Route 25A. The 60-year-old subject was slumped over. As Rangers removed the subject from the vehicle for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to do CPR, the subject regained consciousness. An ambulance transported the subject to the hospital.
Town of Saratoga Springs
Saratoga County
Public Outreach: On April 22, Forest Ranger Clute appeared on a special Earth Day live broadcast by Albany’s WNYT News Channel 13 at DEC’s Saratoga Tree Nursery. Ranger Clute talked about the dangers of wildfires and how quickly they can spread in the spring.
DEC’s statewide residential brush burning prohibition began on March 16 and continues through May 14.
Ranger Clute on Earth Day
City of Albany
Albany County
Public Outreach: On April 23, Forest Ranger Jackson met with children brought to DEC’s headquarters as part of “Take Your Kids to Work Day.” Ranger Jackson discussed fire safety and let the children try out the fire hose.
Ranger Jackson at “Take Your Kids to Work Day”
Town of Queensbury
Warren County
Wildland Fire: On April 23 at 5:30 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to a fire in Dunham Bay Marsh. By 8:30 p.m., fire crews had the 2-acre fire under control. The cause is under investigation.
Queensbury fire
Town of Worcester
Otsego County
Wildland Fire: On April 23, Forest Ranger Laymon responded to a wildland fire burning timber litter along County Highway 40. Fire departments contained the fire to three acres. The landowner faces charges for conducting an unauthorized prescribed burn.
Worcester fire
Town of Lyonsdale
Lewis County
Wildland Fire: On April 24 at 5:46 p.m., four Forest Rangers joined the 3G, Boonville, Constableville, Lowville, Martinsburg, Port Leyden, and West Leyden Fire Departments on an 11-acre fire near Marmon Road. By 9:45 p.m., firefighters controlled the fire.
Lyonsdale Fire
Town of McDonough
Chenango County
Wildland Fire: On April 24 at 6:15 p.m., Chenango County Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with a wildland fire burning in timber litter on McDonough State Forest. Two Rangers assisted the Genegantslet, McDonough, and Pharslia Fire Departments to get the 11-acre fire under control by 8:45 p.m. A power line caused the fire.
Town of Wells
Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On April 26 at 4:30 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to a wildland fire on Windfall Road. Fire crews quickly contained the 0.5-acre fire. Rangers issued a burn ban-related citation.
Town of Johnsburg
Warren County
Wildland Fires: On April 26 at 6:45 p.m., 11 Forest Rangers responded to five separate fires along Route 8 and Route 28. One small shed was burned, but no other structures were in danger. By 9:15 p.m., Rangers and firefighters from Chestertown, Johnsburg, North Creek, and Riparius and Riverside Fire Departments contained the fires. The cause was material ejected from a faulty catalytic converter.
Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Forest Ranger Academy: The Forest Ranger recruits at the 25th Basic School for Forest Rangers recently completed the sixth week of their basic training academy at the SUNY ESF Huntington Forest campus. They completed the basic wildland firefighter training accredited by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and S-130 Firefighter training. This is the initial training to prepare for suppressing wildfires in New York as well as qualifying them to participate on wildland fire crews in fighting wildfires nationally. The 25th Basic School recruits also completed training in defensive tactics, electronic communications, and crime control strategies.
Wildland fire training at the Academy
Wildland fire training at the Academy
Defensive tactics training at the Academy
Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “Hike Smart NY,” “Adirondack Backcountry,” 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.
