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.
During the first six months of 2026, Forest Rangers conducted 126 search and rescue missions, extinguished 65 wildfires covering more than 215 acres, and participated in 54 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,355 acres of land. 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.”
Town of Grafton
Rensselaer County
Law Enforcement: On July 27, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an illegal campsite at Pittstown State Forest. At 7:40 p.m. Forest Ranger Jackson discovered a tent and firepit near Ward Hollow Road. Upon investigation, Ranger Jackson found garbage left behind. One item included the camper’s name. Upon further investigation, Ranger Jackson determined the subject was wanted for larceny in Hoosick Falls. The Ranger called New York State Police for backup. At 9:34 p.m., two subjects returned. The one with the warrant gave a fake name. Police took the suspect into custody and transported them to Hoosick Falls for arraignment. Ranger Jackson cited the other camper with camping within 150 feet of the road. The incident was clear at 10:12 p.m.
Town of Schroon
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 3 at 4:16 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a Garmin SOS reporting a hiker with an ankle injury at Pharoah Lake. Due to their heavy backpack, the hiker needed Forest Ranger assistance. Rangers Donegan and Quinn reached the 50-year-old from Feura Bush, splinted their ankle, and used an ATV to transport them to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 8:03 p.m.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 3 at 9:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who fell approximately 30 feet on Cascade Mountain and may have broken multiple ribs. Forest Rangers Ezumah, Foutch, Jeffery, and Quinn responded. At 1:45 a.m., Rangers reached the 68-year-old from Ohio. The hiker complained of pain in their shoulder, ribs, and leg. and Rangers administered first aid and provided warm clothes, food, and water. After rehydrating, Rangers slowly assisted the hiker to the trailhead. They reached the hiker’s vehicle at 9:30 a.m. The subject said they would seek further medical attention on their own.
Town of East Fishkill and City of Syracuse
Dutchess and Onondaga Counties
Public Outreach: On August 4, Forest Ranger Chappell participated in a National Night Out event hosted by the Syracuse City Police Department at Kirk Park. Many different agencies from Onondaga County attended, including DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers ECOs.) Also on August 4, Rangers Grillo, Pries, and ECO Zullo participated in a National Night Out event hosted by the Town of East Fishkill. Each event promoted police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, crime prevention awareness, and fire safety.
Village of Wappingers Falls
Dutchess County
Public Outreach: On August 5, Forest Rangers Grillo and Pries, and Environmental Conservation Police Officer Zullo spoke to campers at the Stony Kill Foundation Summer Explorers Camp about hiker safety, what to do when you see wildlife in the forest, and all the responsibilities both divisions face on a daily basis. The campers also sang Happy Birthday to Smokey Bear for his 82nd birthday.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 5 at 6:28 p.m., Forest Ranger Jackson responded to a call for a dehydrated and exhausted hiker on the Kaaterskill Falls trail. The 49-year-old from Schenectady had been hiking since Noon. They planned to park at Laurel House but missed the turn and parked at the South Lake parking area. This made the hike to the observation deck much longer than expected. Ranger Jackson provided water and electrolytes and slowly walked the subject to the Laurel House bridge and provided a courtesy ride to their vehicle. The incident was clear at 9:09 p.m.
City of Kingston
Ulster County
Subject in Crisis: On August 6 at 1:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Grillo responded to a 911 call about a subject in crisis sitting in a car at the bottom of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Ranger Grillo and two Dutchess County Sheriff’s Deputies spoke with the subject for more than an hour. They cleaned and bandaged a cut on the subject’s finger. They called in a mobile crisis team who transported the subject to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 5 at 7:05 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to the Peekamoose trail for nine subjects who were lost and didn’t have any flashlights or headlamps. The nine hikers were part of a larger group who started at the Denning trailhead and planned to summit Peekamoose Mountain. When they reached the summit, they became confused and descended the trail that leads to the Peekamooose Road parking area instead of Denning. The group was not equipped with any kind of map. Ranger Horn reached them via cell phone and told them to continue descending. Ranger Horn met them on the trail and hiked them to his vehicle. The Ranger drove the group leader to the YMCA, who was helping the group from another camp, to meet the rest of the group and organized a shuttle to get them all back to the correct parking area. The last hikers reached the parking area at 10:05 p.m.
Rangers suggest bringing a light source, maps, and compasses and know how to use them. These are part of the Ten Hiking Essentials.
Village of Montgomery
Orange County
Wilderness Recovery: On August 6 at 8 a.m. Forest Rangers responded to a call from Montgomery Police about a despondent subject reported missing by an acquaintance. Their last communication was two days earlier. Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, New York State Police, and Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies joined Montgomery Police in the search for the 40-year-old from Montgomery. At 12:04 p.m., Rangers located the subject deceased in the woods approximately 250 feet south of their property, The subject was turned over to the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers condolences to the family.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, help is available. Call or text 988 for New York State’s free 24-hour hotline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Town of Shandaken
Ulster County
Wilderness Search: On August 6 at 4:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Grillo and Pries responded to a call for three lost hikers on Eagle Mountain. After speaking to the caller, Ranger Grillo determined the original coordinates provided were incorrect and the subjects from Brooklyn were actually on Lone Mountain. The Chaveirim Search and Rescue team also responded and located the hikers. Rangers and the Search and Rescue Team assisted the hikers back to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 8:30 p.m.
Town of Santa Clara
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 7 at 4:44 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Adams about a camper at Long Pond who injured themself with an axe. Ranger Adams spoke to the group of campers and determined the bleeding was under control. Ranger Adams explained how to get to Floodwood Road and asked Ray Brook to dispatch the Saranac Lake Rescue Ambulance. At 5:15 p.m., Ranger Adams reached the group from New Jersey and applied gauze and pressure to the wound. At 5:30 p.m., the ambulance took the patient to the hospital.
Hamlet of Pine Plains
Dutchess County
Wilderness Search: On August 8 at 2 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Grillo about two lost hikers on the Stissing Mountain Multiple Use Area. The 51-year-old from Brooklyn and 55-year-old from Dobbs Ferry made it to the fire tower but ended up on the wrong trail going back. Their phones were running low on battery power and they didn’t have paper maps. They also ran out of water. Ranger Grillo instructed them to hike back to the fire tower. Ranger Grillo met them there, provided electrolytes and water, and hiked them back to the parking lot. The incident was clear at 4:30 p.m.
Rangers suggest packing at least two liters of water per person and carrying more than you think you will need. Water is part of the Ten Hiking Essentials.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On August 9 at 11:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a report of an overdue hiking party, possibly attempting to summit Haystack, Basin, and Saddleback mountains. Rangers Jansen, Odell, Quinn, and Rooney responded. At last contact around 7 p.m., the hikers were heading down the Phelps trail on Haystack Mountain. At 8 a.m., Rangers searching trails located the 51-year-old and 57-year-old from Florida in good health. Rangers hiked with them back to the Garden trailhead. The incident was clear at 9:45 a.m.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On August 9 at 11:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Odell responded to a call for an overdue hiker on Giant Mountain. At 12:10 a.m., Ranger Odell located the 22-year-old from Rochester on the Ridge Trail, without an adequate light source. Ranger Odell hiked with them to the trailhead and then responded to the search on Haystack Mountain.
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, 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.
