DEC Contact: Jeff Wernick (518) 402-8000 January 11, 2023
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DEC FOREST RANGERS – WEEK IN REVIEWRecent Statewide Forest Ranger Actions |
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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 2022, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 359 search and rescue missions, extinguished 162 wildfires covering more than 1,300 acres, participated in 53 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate nearly 900 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests. “With more people visiting State lands and enjoying New York's myriad, world-class outdoor recreational opportunities, DEC’s Forest Rangers are on the front lines to help visitors get outside responsibly and get home safely,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Each day, these highly trained first responders are protecting irreplaceable natural resources and utilizing their expert knowledge of wildland fire suppression, wilderness first aid, land navigation, law enforcement, and technical rescue techniques to successfully execute critical missions, for DEC and our countless local, state, and national partners." Village of Cooperstown Rangers meet with Otsego County Sheriff: (Left to Right) Sheriff Devlin, Lt. Breigle, Ranger Laymon, Ranger Ellis, Ranger Cooley (photo attached) Hamlet of Claryville Wilderness first responder training (two photos attached) Schuyler County Stolen Vehicle: On Jan. 6 at 2:23 p.m., while patrolling Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, Ranger Roberts found an abandoned vehicle without license plates. Ranger Roberts ran the vehicle identification number and determined the truck was stolen from Seneca County. The Seneca County Sheriff’s Department notified the owner and is investigating. Stolen truck in Schuyler County (two photos attached) 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: https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/667.html |
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