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 2024, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 122 wildfires covering nearly 6,500 acres, participated in 60 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,155 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests.   

“DEC’s Forest Rangers bravely protect State-owned and managed lands, as well as the people who use them. Whether conducting a search and rescue call or responding to a wildfire burning out of control, Rangers are always ready when emergencies strike,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Every day and in all conditions, Forest Rangers demonstrate their expertise and leadership in protecting the public and State lands, serving as role models for the next generation of environmental stewards. DEC encourages interested New Yorkers to visit DEC’s website to learn how to become the next New York State Forest Ranger.”  

Town of North Elba 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 16 at 12:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting a hiker had suffered a broken ankle on Whiteface Mountain. The caller said the injured hiker was closer to the summit than the trailhead. Several Forest Rangers responded and located the 45-year-old from Schenectady. Rangers splinted the hiker’s ankle and assisted the hiking party to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical attention and resources were clear at 3:47 p.m. 

Whiteface rescue (photo attached)

Town of Pomfret 

Chautauqua County 

Search: On June 19 at 1:20 p.m., Forest Ranger Hale responded to a call for two missing teenagers. The teens had left a residence in Cassadaga at 10 p.m., the previous night with tents and backpacks, but had not taken their cell phones. Rangers Hale and Streczywilk set up an Incident Command and divided 25 searchers into three teams. The teams included New York State Police (NYSP), Chautauqua County Volunteer Search Team, and the Cassadaga Fire Department. At 7 p.m., one of the search teams found the missing youth in good health, camped out on Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy property. 

Town of Clifton 
St. Lawrence County

Wilderness Rescue: On June 20 at 7:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with an injured hiker at campsite eight on the Cranberry Lake 50. Rangers Ellis and Emerson, and Assistant Forest Ranger Vogle launched the Forest Ranger Boat from the Cranberry Lake Field office. At 9:50 a.m., Rangers reached the 36-year-old from West Chazy. The hiker indicated they couldn’t continue hiking with a full pack and a knee injury. At 10 a.m., Ranger Benzel met the Ranger boat with a DEC Operations boat and transported the hiker to the field office where a friend picked them up. Resources were clear at 10:45 a.m. 

Town of Hunter 

Green County 

Wilderness Recovery: On June 20 at 6:45 p.m., DEC Forest Rangers and local emergency services responded to a call regarding an injured hiker on the Kaaterskill Falls Access trail in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Rangers Dawson and Fox located the 70-year-old hiker from Illinois with serious fall-related injuries at the location. Responders provided medical care at the scene, extricated the subject to the trailhead, and attempted to stabilize the subject for transport to a hospital via helicopter. However, the hiker succumbed to the severe level of injury and was declared deceased at the trailhead. 

DEC sends our condolences to the hiker’s family and thanks the first responders for their efforts.  

Town of Elizabethtown 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 21 at 9:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from someone reporting a hiking party overdue from hiking Giant Mountain. Ray Brook Dispatch reached the overdue party by phone and determined the hikers’ location was approximately 2.5 miles from the nearest trailhead. The hikers admitted they underestimated the hike, were too tired to continue, and only had one light for the group of three. At 11:55 p.m., Forest Rangers DuChene and Praczkajlo reached the subjects and assisted them to the trailhead. 

Town of Elizabethtown 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 22 at 12:20 p.m., a hiker called Forest Ranger Praczkajlo to report a non-weight bearing ankle injury on Owls Head Mountain. Coordinates placed the 68-year-old from Ballston Spa one mile from the trailhead. Several Rangers attended to the injury and used a wheeled litter to transport the patient off the mountain. The subject decided to seek further medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 2:40 p.m. 

Owls Head rescue (photo attached)

Town of Keene 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On June 22 at 4:30 p.m. Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from someone who had suffered a knee injury on Hurricane Mountain. Due to the severity of the injury and their location on the mountain, Forest Rangers requested New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation assistance. NYSP Pilot Sgt. Beck flew to the site with Rangers Lewis and O’Connor. Ranger Lewis lowered Ranger O’Connor to tend to the subject’s injuries and secure them for a hoist. Ranger Lewis successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. The patient was transported to Adirondack Medical Center. Resources were clear at 5:25 p.m. 

Hurricane Mountain hoist rescue (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.