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 2023, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 370 search and rescue missions, extinguished 146 wildfires covering nearly 1,400 acres, participated in 52 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,000 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests.  

“Whether they are leading complex search and rescue incidents, suppressing wildfires, enforcing laws on State lands and easements, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, or encouraging responsible recreation, Forest Rangers stand ready to help when called,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Forest Rangers’ wide-ranging expertise and collaboration with local, State, and federal partners are instrumental in protecting New York’s public lands and the many visitors who use them.”  

Village of Spencerport 

Monroe County  

Public Outreach: On May 14, Forest Rangers Cooley and Richer attended the Western Monroe and Orleans County career fair for high school students. Rangers talked about the upcoming Civil Service exams and requirements to become a Forest Ranger. This six-hour career day also featured representatives from New York State Park Police, United States Border Patrol, and New York State Police. 

 

Ranger Richer at Western Monroe and Orleans County career fair (photo attached)

 

Village of Millerton 

Dutchess County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 14 at 2:28 p.m., Forest Rangers Pries and Russo responded to a call for two injured hikers at the bottom of the waterfall off Quarry Hill trail at Taconic State Park. A 28-year-old from LaGrange with an arm injury walked out on her own. A 33-year-old from Poughkeepsie with a suspected head injury was pulled out of the water by EMS, who determined the subject had suffered a hip injury, as well. Rangers assisted rope technicians from Copake Fire Department with a high-angle rope rescue. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Amenia and Millerton Fire Departments also assisted with the rescue. The subject was flown to the hospital and resources were clear at 5 p.m. 

 

Taconic State Park rescue (three photos attached)

 

Village of Wurtsboro 

Sullivan County 

Accident Response: On May 15 at 2:45 p.m., Forest Ranger Jahn was flagged down by a motorist who had witnessed an accident on Route 209. Ranger Jahn found the subject ejected from a vehicle that had veered off the road and down an embankment. The subject was unresponsive but had a pulse. Ranger Jahn began rescue breathing until EMS arrived with supplemental oxygen. Otisville and Westbrookville Volunteer Fire Departments, New York State Police, and Mamakating First Aid Squad helped carry the patient out of the woods to an ambulance. 

 

Town of Wilmington 

Essex County 

Training: On May 16, six Forest Rangers served as instructors for eight Rangers during swift water training at the flume in Wilmington. The location was selected due to the frequency and technical nature of rescues and recovery missions that have historically occurred at the location.

 

Wilmington swift water training (photo attached)

 

City of Beacon 

Dutchess County 

Training: On May 16, Forest Ranger Pries and Russo joined staff from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for rope rescue training at Hudson Highlands State Park. Rangers and Parks staff familiarized themselves with different rope hardware and techniques used, and shared knowledge of past rope rescues. Attendees also worked on repelling techniques and hauling operations. 

 

Rope rescue training at Hudson Highlands State Park (photo attached)

 

Hamlet of West Sand Lake 

Rensselaer County 

Ranger Honored: On May 16, the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance presented Forest Ranger Jackson with an appreciation award for his dedication to the residents of Rensselaer County. 

 

Ranger Jackson receives appreciation award from RCCA President Dingman (photo attached)

 

Hamlet of Ridge 

Suffolk County 

Law Enforcement: On May 17, Forest Ranger Hicks received information about a white pickup truck dumping material on Rocky Point State Forest. Upon investigation, Ranger Hicks located a 62-year-old from Ridge who admitted dumping the debris. Ranger Hicks ticketed the subject for depositing waste on State land and ordered him to clean up the debris. 

 

Illegal dumping (photo attached)

 

Town of Smithville 

Chenango County 

Law Enforcement: On May 18 at 1:45 a.m., Central Dispatch received a noise complaint from a camper at Long Pond State Forest. Forest Ranger Chappell investigated and ticketed one subject for playing music too loudly during established quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

 

Town of Hunter 

Greene County 

Campground Fire: On May 18 at 4:49 p.m., Forest Ranger Lieutenant Slade and Ranger Peterson responded to North-South Lake Campground for a report of a camper fire that had spread. A pull-behind camper was fully involved and spread to 0.1 acres of woods behind the camper. Local fire departments extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported.  

 

Camper fire (photo attached)

 

Village of Fort Ann 

Washington County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 18 at 10:15 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting she and her child had lost the trail on Buck Mountain. Forest Ranger St. Claire reached the 44-year-old from Cohoes at 12:30 a.m. and guided the two hikers back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:48 a.m. 

 

City of Albany and Town of Guilderland 

Albany County 

Prescribed Fires: On May 19, Forest Ranger Jackson joined staff and volunteers from DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests and the Albany Pine Bush to conduct a prescribed fire on 13 acres in the Pine Bush in the town of Guilderland.  
   

On May 20, the same staff conducted a prescribed fire on 22 acres near the intersection of Lincoln and Whitestone roads in the Pine Bush in the city of Albany. 

 
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 also used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other hazards that fuel fires in order 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. 

 

Prescribed fire at Albany Pine Bush (photo attached)

 

Prescribed fire at Albany Pine Bush crew (photo attached)

 

Town of Chesterfield 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 19 at 4:40 p.m., a hiker with multiple injuries suffered a 20-foot fall on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. Forest Rangers located the 37-year-old from Peru, New York, approximately two-thirds of a mile up the trail. New York State Police (NYSP) aviation was called in to assist Forest Rangers with the rescue. Rangers Black, Foutch, Quinn, and Sabo stabilized the subject and packaged her into a litter. Ranger Lewis and NYSP Pilot Kotronis hoisted the subject into the helicopter for transport to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:15 p.m. 

 

Poke-O-Moonshine hoist rescue (three photos attached)

 

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Informationv 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