Recent Statewide Forest Ranger Actions

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 North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 24 at 5:37 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on the Van Hovenberg trail just below the junction with Phelps Mountain. Forest Ranger Lewis served as incident commander, leading a team of seven Rangers on a carry-out mission. Rangers reached the 60-year-old from Auburn by 7 p.m., stabilized her ankle, and packaged her into a backpack carrier. Rangers carried the subject approximately one mile to Marcy Dam and then drove a UTV three miles to the intersection of South Meadows and Adirondack Loj Roads where she was met by her husband, who drove her to the hospital. Resources were clear by 9:30 p.m.

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Rescue on Phelps Mountain

Hamlet of Haines Falls

Greene County

Swift Water Rescues: On July 25 at 2:52 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to multiple reports of subjects stranded by flash flooding. Ranger Peterson responded to Kaaterskill Falls where one subject was stranded below the lower falls. The water was approximately four feet deep and rushing quickly. Ranger Peterson tied a rope to a tree, waded through the creek, and then helped carry the subject across the water to safety. Ranger Peterson then headed to Fawn’s Leap off Route 23A where seven subjects were stranded on the side of the Kaaterskill Creek. Forest Rangers Dawson and Fox worked with the Twin Cloves Technical Rescue Team to set up a high angle rope rescue system to pull two subjects to safety. Rangers Ellis, Horn, and Jackson then worked with New York State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Hunter Police, and Kingston and Tannersville fire departments to set up a swift water rescue system with an inflatable boat. One by one, each of the five subjects was helped across the creek in the boat. No one was injured and the rescues were complete by 6:44 p.m. Rangers Dawson and Peterson explain what is was like to perform these rescues in a video available of DEC’s YouTube page, https://youtu.be/zYM4DsCWu2o.

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Fawn's Leap rescue from inside crevice

Fawn's Leap two trapped subjects

Fawn's Leap five stranded subjects

Fawn's Leap rescue with boat

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 26 at 2:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker with a knee injury approximately 1.2 miles from the summit of Mount Marcy. Ranger Foutch contacted the 33-year-old from LaFayette. At 4:05 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was called. Ranger Sabo served as the hoist operator in the helicopter, while Ranger Evans served as the rescuer. At 5:27 p.m., NYSP Pilots Drindack and Kotronis and  the Rangers successfully hoisted the subject and flew her to the hospital.  

Hamlet of Haines Falls

Greene County
Wilderness Rescues: On July 26 at 5 p.m., Forest Rangers Dawson and Peterson responded to Fawn’s Leap for a subject with an unstable lower leg injury. The subject fell while climbing a section of the cliff and fell approximately 20 feet onto a streambed rock. Rangers worked with the Twin Cloves Technical Rescue Team to pull the 28-year-old from Long Island to safety using a low angle rope system. Greene County Paramedics treated the significant ankle and arm injuries and requested a helicopter. At 6:15 p.m., the patient was taken by Hunter Ambulance to a staging area before being flown to the hospital.
DEC encourages visitors to Fawn’s Leap to avoid climbing the rocks there, especially without proper climbing gear.  In addition, recent flash flooding serve as a reminder to outdoor adventurers to check the forecast before heading out.

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Climber rescued at Fawn’s Leap

Town of Denning

Ulster County

Wilderness Rescue: On July 28 at 4:15 p.m., Forest Rangers Rusher and Quinones overheard radio traffic between the Blue Hole Stewards and Central Dispatch about a teenager possibly having a seizure at Peekamoose Blue Hole. Rangers arrived to find the 13-year-old from Hurley conscience and alert, but with blue lips, hands, and feet. The subject also hit her head on a rock when she passed out. The teen, accompanied by her father, was lethargic, lightheaded, and shivering due to dehydration and hypothermia. Rangers helped the teenager out of the water, and gave her dry clothes, snacks, and water. Neversink EMS transported the subject to the hospital. Resources were clear at 5:45 p.m.

Town of Hunter

Greene County

Wilderness Rescue: On July 29 at 3:20 p.m., Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Staffa found an 18-year-old from New York City who had fallen on the Upper Falls Trail at Kaaterskill Falls while hiking with her family. AFR Staffa provided first aid and contacted Forest Ranger Dawson. AFR Staffa helped the subject down the trail to Ranger Dawson’s truck. Ranger Dawson drove the subject to the Scutt Road trailhead and provided further medical care before the teen's family met them at the trailhead. The family advised they would seek further medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.

Town of Hunter

Greene County

Wilderness Rescue: On July 29 at 3:55 p.m., Forest Ranger Dawson responded to the Scutt Road trailhead for a report of a medical emergency. Ranger Dawson found a 27-year-old from New Jersey who had been stung by a bee and was having a severe allergic reaction. Ranger Dawson contacted Green County Paramedics who provided epinephrine, which relieved all symptoms.

Town of Delhi

Delaware County
Public Outreach: On July 29, Forest Ranger Seeley teamed up with New York State Police and Smokey Bear as part of a summer reading program at the Cannon Free Library in Delhi.

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Ranger Seeley and Trooper Gombosi with Smokey Bear at Cannon Free Library
Ranger Seeley with Smokey Bear at Cannon Free Library

Town of Broome

Schoharie County
Public Outreach: On July 29, Forest Ranger Cooley and Smokey Bear helped celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Town of Broome Fire Department. The event was open to the publicand provided children with the opportunity to meet Ranger Cooley and Smokey and check out the fire truck.

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Ranger Cooley at Broome Fire Department's 75th anniversary celebration

Village of Tupper Lake

Franklin County
Law Enforcement: On August 30, Forest Ranger Corey issued 10 tickets to an individual who had two illegal encampments on State land at Underwood Bridge and Big Tupper Lake. Rangers Bronson and Russell assisted Ranger Corey in evicting the subject. The tickets included camping for four or more nights without a permit, storing personal property on State land, cutting down trees, leaving rubbish, and leaving a fire unattended. Each ticket carries a maximum fine of $250.

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Illegal camp at Tupper Lake

Illegal camp at Tupper Lake

Illegal camp at Tupper Lake

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