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 2017, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 346 search and rescue missions, extinguished 55 wildfires that burned a total of 191 acres, participated in 29 prescribed fires that burned and rejuvenated 564 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 3,000 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 is 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.”

Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers include:

Town of Jay
Essex County
Rescue: DEC Dispatch received a call on Jan. 15 at 7:58 p.m., requesting assistance to locate a group of overdue hikers on Nun-da-ga-o Ridge near Lost Pond. Two Forest Rangers responded and located the subject's vehicle at the Lost Pond trailhead. The Rangers located the subjects at 10:42 p.m., in good condition near the upper trailhead. Rangers assisted the group back to their vehicles, and the incident concluded at 11 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28708.html) and Adirondack Backcountry Information (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) webpage for more information.