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.” 

City of Rock Tavern 

Orange County 

Law Enforcement: On June 6, Forest Ranger Jahn observed an abandoned vehicle in the Lorraine Road parking lot of Stewart State Forest. The 2022 Mercedes had been parked there for at least two days. Working with Dispatch, Ranger Jahn learned the vehicle had been reported stolen in Hackensack, NJ. Ranger Jahn contacted Hackensack Police who confirmed it was the same stolen vehicle. New York State Police processed the vehicle and had it towed. 

Town of Volney 

Oswego County 

Wildland Fire: On June 17, at 1:10 p.m., Forest Rangers Petit and Vaile responded to a fire on Route 3. Three fire departments and Rangers contained the fire by 2:30 p.m., but remnants continued to smolder for days. Ranger Vaile issued a ticket to the homeowner for leaving a fire unattended. On June 21, Ranger Vaile declared the fire out. 

Wildland fire in Volney (photo attached)

Town of Warrensburg 

Warren County 

Wilderness Search: On June 18, at 11:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a concerned party about a subject who was last seen the day before on the Pack Forest nature trail. Forest Rangers Kabrehl and Savarie performed linear searches overnight with negative results. At 8:45 a.m., the Warren County Sheriff’s office advised the 45-year-old from Glens Falls was located walking on Route 9 without shoes or a shirt. Forest Ranger Captain Ganswindt and Ranger Savarie interviewed the subject who advised he had become lost on June 17 and found his way to the main road early on June 19. A sheriff’s deputy transported the subject to the hospital for dehydration treatment. 

Town of Clifton
St. Lawrence County

Water Search: On June 19, at 7:48 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a kayaker who had become separated from his paddling partner and could not find his way back to their camp on Bog Lake. Forest Ranger Jansen found the kayaker on Grass Pond and helped him back to the campsite. Resources were clear at 10:10 p.m. 

Town of Ticonderoga 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 20 at 3 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to Putnam Pond Campground for a report of a subject who had fallen and broken his leg across the water from the main area of the campground. Three Rangers, EMTs, and the Ticonderoga Fire Department used motorboats to reach the 67-year-old from Warwick. The rescue crew packaged the subject onto a back board and carried him to one of the docked boats across the water to a waiting ambulance. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.  

Town of Lysander 

Onondaga County 

Wildland Fire: On June 20, at 3:47 p.m., Forest Ranger Chappell responded to a wildfire on Avery Road. Downed power lines caused the fire, which burned approximately .2 acres of land. By 4:25 p.m., firefighters put out the fire. National Grid shut off the power and made repairs to the damaged power lines. 

Wildland fire in Lysander (photo attached)

Town of Philipstown 

Putnam County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 21, at 2:45 p.m., Forest Rangers Pries and Russo responded to a call for a hiker going in and out of consciousness on the Breakneck Ridge trail. The subject’s hiking companion shared information about the hiker with the Hudson Highlands Park Manager. Rangers and staff from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation hiked up to the coordinates provided by Putnam County Dispatch. At 4 p.m., rescue crews reached the 18-year-old from Holbrook and provided food, water, and electrolytes. The crew used a wheeled litter to get the subject down the mountain. A Putnam County Paramedic examined the hiker and an ambulance transported her to a hospital for further assistance. Resources were clear at 5:20 p.m. 

Ranger Russo with hiker on Breakneck Ridge trail (photo attached)

Breakneck Ridge trail rescue (photo attached)

Town of Mamakating 

Sullivan County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 22 at 4:30 p.m., a group of five hikers called Sullivan County 911 to report they were lost in Roosa Gap State Forest and couldn’t find their way back to the Cox Road trailhead. At 6:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Rusher reached the group from Queens, approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead. The group thought the Long Path was a one-mile loop and had not prepared to be outside in the extremely hot weather. The group had only brought one bottle of water for each person. One member of the party was dizzy and nauseated due to heat exhaustion. Ranger Rusher provided food, water, and electrolytes to everyone in the group so they could continue hiking down. At 8:10 p.m., Summitville Fire Department hiked in with additional water for the group. At 8:45 p.m., the group reached the trailhead and were checked out by EMS. 

Hikers found in Roosa Gap State Forest (two photos attached)

Town of Keene 

Essex County 

Wilderness Search: On June 22 at 4:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of hikers reporting a 19-year-old member of their party had hiked ahead of them on Mount Marcy and was presumed lost. Forest Ranger Praczkajlo spoke to the summit steward who saw the hiker near the peak at 10:40 a.m., and a report from John’s Brook Lodge indicated the hiker was spotted at 3:30 p.m., lying down from exhaustion. At 5:40 p.m., Ranger Praczkajlo met the hiker as he reached the trailhead and reunited him with his hiking party.  

Town of Delhi 

Delaware County 

Training: On June 23, Forest Rangers Bink, Ellis, and Seeley taught a basic wildland fire suppression class for 15 firefighters from various volunteer fire departments in Delaware County. The field portion of the class focused on constructing a fire line, the use of hand tools, and safety while performing field operations during a wildland fire. 

Wildfire suppression training in Delhi (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.