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 Keene 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On July 7 at 1 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who suffered a broken arm on Mount Marcy.  New York State Police pilot Beck flew Forest Rangers Rooney and Sabo to the hiker’s location. Ranger Sabo lowered Ranger Rooney onto the mountain. Ranger Rooney splinted the subject’s arm and harnessed them for extraction. Ranger Sabo hoisted the 61-year-old from Nyack into the helicopter and pilot Beck flew them to the hospital. Ranger Rooney hiked out with the remaining members of the subject’s party. Resources were clear at 8 p.m.

 

Mount Marcy rescue (two photos attached)

 

Town of Keene 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On July 8 at 11:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Rooney responded to a call for a hiker with a shoulder injury approximately half a mile from the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain. The hiker indicated a friend was helping on a steep step and pulled the arm and felt their shoulder pop out. The hiker and their party continued hiking to Johns Brook Lodge. Rangers Ezumah and Rooney met the hiker there, treated the shoulder injury, and put the arm in a sling. Rangers escorted the hiking party to the trailhead. The hiker indicated they would seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 3:45 p.m.

 

Town of Hunter 

Greene County 

Rescue: On July 8 at 7 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a swimmer and a dog stranded below Fawn’s Leap. The dog went over the edge and was stuck on the other side of the stream. A 29-year-old from Poughkeepsie tried to rescue the dog but also got stuck. Rangers Horn and Jackson assisted the Ulster County Sheriff’s Dive/Swift Water Rescue Team, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens and Hudson Fire Departments, and Twin Cloves Technical Rope Rescue Team with a high-angle rope rescue. Rangers provided a personal flotation device to the swimmer as a rescuer was lowered to attach a harness to the swimmer and the dog. Rescuers raised the swimmer and dog to the top of Fawn’s Leap, where they were assisted across a calmer section of the stream. Resources were clear at 9:15 p.m.

 

This occurred in a restricted area with warning signage. DEC reminds hikers to follow signs and avoid dangerous locations.

 

Fawn’s Leap rescue (two photos attached)

 

Town of Lysander 

Onondaga County 

Law Enforcement: On July 9, while on patrol in Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, Forest Ranger Chappell heard and then observed two people riding electric bikes on the property. Ranger Chappell stopped the two 15-year-old riders. Electric bikes cannot be operated on roads with posted speed limits over 30 miles per hour, are prohibited in any State Wildlife Management Area, and are illegal for anyone under age 16. Ranger Chappell issued the teens a warning and contacted their parents to safely pick up the bikes and their children.

 

Illegal riding of electric bikes (photo attached)

 

Village of Saranac Lake 

Essex County 

Public Outreach: On July 9, Forest Ranger Lieutenant LaPierre and Rangers Adams, Bowler, Lewis, and Ordway participated in the Saranac Lake Police Department’s Youth Academy. Rangers taught the children about rescues, radio use, and lightning safety. Participants also ran through a mock rescue where the Police Chief was “injured” and needed to be carried out to a helicopter. New York State Police Pilot Engel and Crew Chief Lewis surprised them with an actual helicopter landing. The children spoke to Pilot Engle and Ranger Lewis about the helicopter and hoist rescues

 

Youth Academy (two photos attached)

 

Youth Academy group (photo attached)

 

Town of Patterson 

Putnam County 

Wilderness Search: On July 10 at 3:25 p.m., Putnam County 911 received a call for two people lost at the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area. Forest Ranger Pries responded to coordinates provided by New York State Police, located the subjects, and escorted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 4:10 p.m.

 

Town of White Creek 

Washington County 

Disabled Vehicle: On July 10 at 10:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a subject with a disabled ATV on Mount Tom State Forest. Two Rangers located the 33-year-old from Greenwich and assisted them back to the trailhead and a short distance to their home. Rangers issued tickets for illegal use of a motor vehicle on State land, damaging State land, and failure to obey DEC signage.

 

Town of Webb 

Herkimer County 

Wilderness Rescue: On July 11 at 10:45 a.m., Forest Rangers Piersma and Waligory responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury at the Middle Settlement lean-to in the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness. At 1 p.m., Ranger Waligory reached the 20-year-old from Rhode Island, splinted the ankle, and provided hiking poles. At 2:45 p.m., Ranger Piersma and members of the Old Forge Fire Department arrived with a wheeled litter to transport the subject to their vehicle. The patient decided to seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 4 p.m.

 

Town of North Elba 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On July 11, at 8:07 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker with an ankle injury near Indian Falls on the Van Ho trail. Forest Ranger Foutch made contact with the hiking party, who said they were going to continue to Marcy Dam. Ranger Foutch met them at Marcy Dam, assessed the injury, and provided a ride to their vehicles. The 19-year-old from New Jersey decided to seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 9:55 p.m.

 

Town of Shandaken 

Ulster County 
Wilderness Rescue: On July 12 at 4:44 p.m., Forest Rangers Horn and Martin responded to a call for a hiker who fell, twisted their leg, and hit their head on a rock approximately a quarter mile up the Tanbark Trail. Rangers joined the Phoenicia Fire Department and Shandaken EMS to package the patient and carry them to the road. Shandaken EMS transported them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 6:15 p.m.

 

Town of Hunter 

Greene County 

Wilderness Rescue: On July 12 at 7:10 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance for a report of an unconscious subject at Kaaterskill Falls. Rangers responded with Twin Cloves Technical Rope Rescue Team, Hunter Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, Greene County Paramedics, and multiple fire departments. When rescuers arrived, the patient was conscious after suffering a diabetic emergency. Rescuers carried the subject to the trailhead. A Hunter ambulance transported them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 9:45 p.m.

 

Kaaterskill Falls rescue (two photos attached)

 

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, 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.