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 the backcountry.

In 2018, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 346 search and rescue missions, extinguished 105 wildfires that burned a total of 845 acres, participated in 24 prescribed fires that burned and rejuvenated 610 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in 2,354 tickets or arrests.

"Across New York, DEC Forest Rangers are on the front lines helping people safely enjoy the great outdoors," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Their knowledge of first aid, land navigation, and technical rescue techniques are critical to the success of their missions, which take them from remote wilderness areas with rugged mountainous peaks, to white-water rivers and throughout our vast forested areas statewide."

Town of Keene

Essex County

Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 30 at 12 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiking party reporting a 53-year-old woman who suffered a lower leg injury after slipping on ice on the Mount Van Hoevenberg Trail. Forest Rangers Robbi Mecus, Rob Praczkajlo, Kevin Burns, Sarah Bode, James Giglinto, and Jeffrey Balerno responded, along with New York State Police and Mount Van Hoevenberg staff. The search team located the injured hiker from Shelburn, Vermont, near the summit. She was packaged in a litter and carried to a Snowcat machine operated by the Olympic Regional Development Association. The Snowcat transported the woman to a parking area near the ski jump where she was turned over to the Lake Placid Ambulance Squad for further medical attention.

Town of Pitcher

Chenango County

Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 30, at 6 p.m., Chenango County 911 Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Mike Burkholder requesting assistance with the search for a missing 83-year-old man. Forest Ranger Burkholder responded to the man’s residence and met with his family who said he went to get the mail and never returned. Ranger Burkholder and Chenango County Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Eaton searched the immediate area with no results. Ranger Burkholder then requested additional resources for a wildland search, including two additional Forest Rangers, the Chenango County Search Team, and the Cincinnatus Fire Department. With these additional resources, Ranger Burkholder and Fire Chief Shawn Scoville organized search parties and directed assignments. At approximately 7:30 p.m., Ranger Burkholder received a report that the missing man was located by his daughter and a friend in a nearby farm field. Ranger Burkholder, Deputy Eaton, and Cincinnatus Chief Shawn Scoville responded to that location and with the assistance of the man’s daughter, carried him to a waiting ambulance to be transported to a local hospital. All resources were cleared of the scene by 8 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hiking Safety and Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage for more information.

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