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 2025, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, participated in 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,100 tickets and arrests. Also in 2025, 41 Forest Rangers were deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states.

 

“Our Forest Rangers are elite law enforcement leaders who put their lives on the line when they respond to a search and rescue, wildland fire, or State land violation,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “We’re fortunate to have them patrolling State lands and keeping people safe. Their expertise and professionalism are valuable assets, not only in New York, but around the country wherever emergencies arise.”

 

Hamlet of Paul Smiths 

Franklin County 

Training: On May 1 and 2, Forest Ranger Lieutenant LaPierre and Rangers Adams, Bowler, and Corey taught the basic wildland search course for members of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK.) Rangers often work together with SARNAK on search and rescue missions, so training together makes things more efficient in the event of an actual emergency.

 

SARNAK training crew (photo attached)

 

Town of Corinth 

Saratoga County 

Brush Fire: On May 4 at 4:30 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to assist fire departments with a fire on private property on Wilton Mountain Road. The 0.25-acre fire was caused by someone dumping stove ashes outside. Fire crews quickly contained the fire. 

 

Village of Middleport 

Niagara County 

Training: On May 7, Forest Ranger Captain Kennedy and Rangers Christopher, Dempf, Robitaille, and Sprague instructed the basic wildland skills course to 50 members of the New York State Police (NYSP) Mobile Field Unit. The classroom portion was held at  

Wolcottsville Volunteer Fire Department and the field exercise was at Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area.  

 

NYSP training crew (photo attached)

  

City of Albany and Towns of Guilderland, Moreau, Riverhead, and Southampton 

Albany, Saratoga and Suffolk Counties 

Prescribed Fires: On May 8, Forest Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Lands and Forests and Fish and Wildlife and staff from the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Lab to conduct a controlled burn of 27 acres of the Otis Pike Pine Barren State Forest in Riverhead.   

 

Also on May 8, Forest Rangers joined DEC and Albany Pine Bush staff to conduct controlled burns of 13 acres at the Albany Pine Bush. 

 

On May 12, Forest Rangers joined DEC staff from the Division of Lands and Forests, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and Albany Pine Bush staff to conduct a controlled burn of 57 acres at the Albany Pine Bush in Guilderland. 

 

Also on May 12, Forest Rangers joined New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to conduct a controlled burn of 30 acres at Moreau Lake State Park in Moreau. 

 

On May 18, Forest Rangers joined DEC staff from the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and staff from the Central Pine Barrens Commission to conduct a controlled burn of seven acres at the Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest in Southampton. 

 

Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. 

 

 

DEC recently announced the beginning of prescribed fire season. These burns are regulated by law and regulation and require technical expertise to safely conduct. Controlled burns help prevent the spread of invasive species, and in some areas, prescribed fire is used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other fuel to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals. 

 

Prescribed burn crew in Albany (photo attached)

 

Prescribed burn in Riverhead (photo attached)

 

Prescribed burn at Albany Pine Bush (photo attached)

 

Prescribed burn at Moreau Lake State Park (photo attached)

 

Prescribed burn at Moreau Lake State Park (photo attached)

 

Town of Independence 

Allegany County 

Missing Child: On May 8 at 7:09 p.m. Forest Rangers Christopher, Sprague, and Thaine responded to a call for a missing 3-year-old last seen on County Route 22 an hour earlier. New York State Police (NYSP) and the Allegany County Drone Team were on scene. The child’s mother said the child was playing outside with the family dog and then she couldn’t see them anymore. Family immediately began searching the area. Ranger Christopher worked with NYSP to search nearby roads and fire departments to check ponds and structures on adjacent properties. At 9 p.m., a neighbor driving on Hawks Road found the child and dog in a field on the edge of the road, 1.4 miles away from the house. The Independence Emergency Squad evaluated the child and returned them to their family. 

 

Town of Keene 

Essex County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 9 at 9:30 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to a dropped 911 call near the Garden parking lot and trailhead. Essex County Dispatch retrieved cell phone coordinates that placed a 22- and 26-year-old several hundred feet off trail between the Brothers and Phelps trails. At 10:45 p.m., Dispatchers made contact with a friend of the hikers who received a text message with updated coordinates that placed the hikers in Cold Brook Pass in Newcomb. At 1:30 a.m., Lake Colden Caretaker Raudonis reached the pair and assisted them to the outpost to get warm and dry. After spending the night, Caretaker Raudonis assisted the hiking party to the Marcy Dam Outpost. Ranger Jeffery met them and assisted them to the South Meadows trailhead. Resources were clear at 1 p.m. 

 

 

Town of Windham 

Greene County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 10 at 3:51 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford and Dawson responded to a report of an 11-year-old acting lethargic on the Escarpment trail. At 5:14 p.m., Rangers, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the Windham Fire Department reached the child from Valatie, who was suffering from dehydration. Rescuers carried the child half a mile to the trailhead. Windham Ambulance evaluated the child and returned them to their hiking party. 

 

Town of Warrensburg 

Warren County 

Water Recovery: On May 10 at 8 p.m., Warren County requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing kayaker in the Schroon River. NYSP, the Warrensburg Fire Department, and Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies began searching the area behind Library Avenue. At 9:30 p.m., crews found the kayak, but not the 21-year-old from Yonkers. The Warren County Marine Rescue Team and NYSP Underwater Recovery Team searched into the early morning hours with negative results.

 

The following day, Forest Rangers, DEC Environmental Conservation Police, NYSP, Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the North Queensbury Fire Department continued searching. At 7:45 p.m., the NYSP Underwater Recovery Team located the subject deceased.  

 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers its condolences to the family. 

 

Hamlet of Livingston Manor 

Sullivan County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 12 at 12 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who fell and suffered a face laceration on the Quick Lake trail in the Willowemoc Wild Forest. Forest Ranger Franke responded with Beaverkill Valley and Livingston Manor Fire Departments. A member of the hiking party provided coordinates to Ranger Franke. At 12:45 p.m., rescuers reached and evaluated the subject. Rescuers transported the 72-year-old from Woodstock to a Livingston Manor Ambulance on Beaverkill Road. Resources were clear at 2:45 p.m. 

 

Town of Warrensburg 

Warren County 

Wildland Fire: On May 12 at 4 p.m., Warren County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire that damaged a structure. Rangers assisted Chester, Horicon, Minerva, Portersville, and Riverside Fire Departments to contain the fire by 8:35 p.m. The cause of the 2-acre fire remains under investigation. 

 

Warrensburg fire (photo attached)

 

Town of North Elba 

Essex County 

Wilderness Search: On May 13 at 1:47 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Ezumah about a lost hiker near Street and Nye Mountain trail. Rangers Ezumah and Rooney met at the trailhead and made verbal contact with the subject one mile down the trail. They found the 47-year-old from Amherst next to Indian Pass Brook. Rangers provided warming layers and escorted the subject back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 4:45 p.m. 

 

North Elba search (photo attached)

 

Hamlet of Rock Hill 

Sullivan County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 15 at 12:45 p.m., Forest Rangers Franke, Schweider, and Stratton responded to a report of an injured angler at Neversink River Unique Area. The 63-year-old from New Jersey got stuck between two rocks while wading and fishing. The subject crawled to shore. Rangers and members of the Rock Hill Fire Department located the injured subject. Rangers splinted the left ankle and packaged the subject into the Fire Department’s wheeled litter. Rescuers carried the patient to the Fire Department’s UTV. Empress EMS transported the subject to the hospital. Resources were clear at 3:30 p.m. 

 

Rock Hill rescue (photo attached)

 

Town of Elizabethtown 

Essex County 

Water Rescue and Recovery:  

On May 15 at 9:48 p.m., Essex County 911 called Ray Brook Dispatch about two subjects in distress at Lincoln Pond. Three Forest Rangers arrived on scene and determined it was three subjects who were in the water after their canoe and kayak flipped. Rangers assisted two of the subjects out of the water. Members of Horicon Fire Department and EMS transported them to Elizabethtown Hospital to treat them for hypothermia. At 1:04 a.m., the Horicon Fire Department Dive Team recovered the third subject, a 30-year-old from Syracuse, deceased.  

 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers its condolences to the family. 

 

City of Kingston 

Ulster County 

Wilderness Rescue: On May 16 at 1:10 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to a call for two individuals lost in Bluestone Wild Forest. Ranger Horn made cell phone contact with the hikers, who didn’t have any navigation tools. Ranger Horn instructed them to stay where they were until later locating the two subjects, providing water, and escorting them to the Morey Hill Road access. Resources were clear at 2:50 p.m. 

 

Town of Canaan 

Columbia County 

Cave Rescue: On May 17 at 9:16 p.m., Forest Ranger Lieutenant Gullen responded to a subject stuck in Merlin’s Cave, approximately 400 feet from the entrance. While crawling, the subject from Brooklyn slipped into a tight crevice. The subject was not injured but was wedged by the rib cage and pelvis and becoming hypothermic.  

 

Ranger Gullen and other National Cave Rescue Commission team members arrived and attempted to remove the subject from his entrapment. They determined they needed a hammer drill to remove some of the rock. After six hours, once free, the subject exited the cave on their own. Resources were clear at 2:18 a.m. 

 

An interview with Lt. Gullen is available here, https://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/ForestRangers/CaveRescueInterview2026-05-20.mp4 

Cave rescue (photo attached)

 

Cave rescue (photo attached)

 

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “Hike Smart NY,” “

Adirondack Backcountry,” 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.