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 our state owned and managed lands, as well as the people who use them. Whether it is a search and rescue call or a wildfire burning out of control, they are always ready when emergencies strike,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Every day and in all conditions, 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 March 18 at 10:13 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker with an ankle injury on the Biscuit Brook trail. Two miles up from the trailhead, Ranger Sweeney located the injured 58-year-old from Accord and her husband. Ranger Sweeney splinted the hiker’s ankle and provided first aid. Rangers Franceschina, Martin, and Schweider hiked in with a wheeled litter. Rangers worked with Woodburn EMS to transport the hiker down the trail. Rangers met Claryville Fire Department who transferred the patient into a UTV and brought her down to a staging area for EMS evaluation. Resources were clear at 4 p.m. 

Biscuit Brook trail rescue (photo attached)

Town of North Hudson 

Essex County 

Wilderness Search: On March 18 at 12:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Quinn responded to a report of a missing person with dementia. Cell phone coordinates placed the missing 79-year-old from Schuylerville on a seasonal portion of Johnson Pond Road in the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. At 1:30 p.m., Ranger Quinn, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) McCarthy and Nicols, and New York State Police (NYSP) personnel located the subject approximately one mile down the seasonal unplowed road. He was inside his vehicle unharmed, but the vehicle was stuck in a ditch. The North Hudson Fire Department transported the subject via UTV to NYSP to provide a courtesy ride back home. Resources were clear at 4 p.m. 

City of Albany, Town of Shelter Island 

Albany and Suffolk Counties  

Prescribed Burns: On March 18, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Mitchell, staff from DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests, members of DEC’s Spills Response Team, personnel from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Albany Pine Bush staff conducted a prescribed fire on seven acres in the Albany Pine Bush. 

On March 23, Forest Rangers Gallagher and Scott, staff from The Nature Conservancy, and volunteers from the Long Island interagency fire crew conducted a prescribed fire on more than 100 acres in the Mashomack Preserve. 

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 conduct safely. 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, including while the statewide annual ban on residential brush burning is in effect. 

Prescribed burn at Albany Pine Bush (two photos attached)

Town of Fishkill 

Dutchess County 

Public Outreach: On March 21, Forest Ranger Russo attended the 20^th annual Maple Festival at the Sharpe Reservation. Ranger Russo and Smokey Bear marched in a parade to greet more than 1,000 visitors and educated attendees about wildfire prevention. 

Maple Festival at Sharpe Reservation (photo attached)

Town of Lysander  

Onondaga County 

Law Enforcement: On March 22, DEC staff alerted Forest Rangers to someone illegally camping on Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Rangers responded and found a truck and camper parked at the end of Potter Road. Rangers observed waste on the ground around the vehicles, as well as in a portable burn pit. The registered owner of the vehicle admitted to camping overnight on the WMA. Rangers wrote tickets for camping without a permit, depositing waste on the wildlife management area, and failure to comply with a DEC sign. 

Illegal Camping (photo attached)

Broome, Cayuga, Dutchess, Madison, Onondaga, Otsego, Steuben, Sullivan, and Wayne Counties  

Wildland Fires: Between March 17 and 24, Forest Rangers responded to 12 fires in nine counties across New York State. The fires burned more than 40 acres of land. The largest fire was in Butternuts, Otsego County, measuring 10.5 acres. The Otsego County wildland fire started on March 20, and was declared out the following day. Eight of the 12 fires were caused by debris burning. DEC reminds New Yorkers that the statewide brush burning ban is in effect until May 14. Violators are subject to a minimum fine of $500.  

Wildland fire in Milan, Dutchess County (photo attached)

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: http://on.ny.gov/NYSForestRangerRoster