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.”     

Town of Canton 
St. Lawrence County

Buoy Removal: On Dec. 7, Forest Rangers assisted DEC Wildlife staff with the removal of boundary buoys on the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area. Rangers used the Region 6 airboat to access the frozen wetlands. The buoys mark the boundaries between the wildlife refuge area, which is closed to the public to protect natural resources, and the restricted wetland area that is open for hunting, fishing, and trapping. The buoys are removed in the early winter to prevent them from being moved or damaged by the ice. 

Forest Rangers remove boundary buoys (two photos attached)

City of Watertown 

Jefferson County 

Public Outreach: On Dec. 9, Forest Ranger Thomes joined Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and other law enforcement entities for the annual Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with a Cop” event. Through community donations, 62 children shopped at the Watertown Walmart. Participating kids were paired with first responders to pick out items for the holidays. 

Ranger Thomes at Shop with a Cop (two photos attached)

Town of Wawarsing 

Ulster County 

Training: On Dec. 10, Forest Rangers Quinones and Rusher taught the Basic Wildland Search Skills course at Sam’s Point Preserve. The course is designed to familiarize participating volunteers and staff with the Forest Ranger Search and Rescue program and help ensure uniform instruction throughout the state. Volunteers play an important and active role in DEC’s search and rescue missions statewide. Sam’s Point Search and Rescue volunteers and Sam’s Point Preserve and Minnewaska State Park staff participated in the training.

Basic Wildland Search Skills course at Sam’s Point Preserve (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.    

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