DEC Forest Rangers – Week in Review

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 2023, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 370 search and rescue missions, extinguished 146 wildfires covering nearly 1,400 acres, participated in 52 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,000 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests.

"Whether they are leading complex search and rescue incidents, suppressing wildfires, enforcing laws on State lands and easements, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, or encouraging responsible recreation, Forest Rangers stand ready to help when called," DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Maharsaid. "Forest Rangers' wide-ranging expertise and collaboration with local, State, and federal partners are instrumental in protecting New York's public lands and the many visitors who use them."

Town of Morris
Otsego County
Public Outreach: On Aug. 2, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Breigle and Ranger Laymon spoke to visitors at the Otsego County Fair. They discussed the different job duties of a Forest Ranger and displayed different tools and gear needed to fight wildfires.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 5 at 2:05 p.m., the Wright Peak Steward alerted Ray Brook Dispatch to a hiker with an unstable leg injury at the junction of Wright and Algonquin peaks. At 4:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Rooney made contact with the 15-year-old from Pennsylvania and determined he had a broken leg. Eleven additional Rangers hiked in to begin the two-mile carry-out in steep, rocky conditions. Rangers splinted the subject's leg and packaged him into a litter using a backpack system for the carry-out. At 9:20 p.m., the group reached Adirondak Loj where the subject's father took him for further medical attention. Video of part of the rescue is available for download: Part 1 (video, 8.0 MB) and part 2 (video, 275 MB).

Wright and Algonquin rescue

Wright and Algonquin rescue

Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 5 at 3:30 p.m., Blue Hole stewards requested Forest Ranger assistance with a subject who had fallen off of his electronic skateboard on a road in the Peekamoose Riparian Corridor. Forest Rangers Horn and Russo found the 19-year-old from New Jersey in the parking area with the stewards. Rangers cleaned the subject's cuts and wrapped a deep wound above his knee before helping him back to his campsite where he decided to seek further medical attention on his own. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.

Rangers tend to skateboarder's injuries

Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 6 at 6:50 a.m., five Forest Rangers responded to a call for a subject with an unstable knee injury at the Slide Brook lean-to. Rangers met the 45-year-old from Watertown along the trail and helped her back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 11:15 a.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 6 at 8:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a satellite phone call from a hiking group reporting a member of their group had suffered a knee injury on the Wolf Jaw Mountain trail. The Johns Brook caretaker and Forest Rangers O'Connor and Ordway responded. Ranger O'Connor taped the injured knee and the 20-year-old continued hiking to her campsite. Resources were clear at 2:30 a.m.

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 7 at 4:10 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to a call from Saranac Lake Fire Department about a fire along Stoney Creek Pond, which is only accessible by boat. The fire was estimated to be one-quarter of an acre in size, had started in pine litter duff, and was likely caused by a campfire. Rangers and the Saranac Lake Fire Department brought the fire under control by 8:46 p.m. The following morning, Ranger Curcio declared the fire out.

Rangers access water to fight Stoney Creek Pond fire

Stoney Creek Pond fire

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 7 at 8:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a bicyclist reporting a hiker in need of assistance on the Whiteface Memorial Highway. Forest Ranger O'Connor located the injured 72-year-old from Connecticut who hiked Ester Mountain and attempted to hike Whiteface but stopped because of knee pain. Ranger O'Connor helped the subject and drove her to her vehicle.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 8 at 1:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the Mount Marcy summit steward reporting a hiker with an unstable ankle injury not far from the summit of Mount Marcy. New York State Police Pilot Engel flew a rescue helicopter in with Forest Ranger O'Connor as hoist operator. Ranger Curcio harnessed the subject and at 2:45 p.m., Ranger O'Connor successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. Pilot Engel then flew the subject to the hospital. Video of the hoist rescue is available for download (video, 9.8 MB).

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 8 at 7:16 p.m., a hiker called for help to locate her father who became separated from their hiking group and was thought to be headed to Lake Colden. Caretaker Raudonis and Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Jackson checked the Lake Colden area up to Feldspar Junction. At 1 a.m., AFR Jackson located the 67-year-old from Plattsburgh on the Lake Arnold trail and hiked with him to the Lake Colden outpost. At 3 a.m., Forest Rangers DuChene and O'Connor reached the outpost. While Caretaker Raudonis prepared a meal for the subject, Rangers provided dry clothing. At 9:30 a.m., Rangers DuChene and O'Connor hiked the 67-year-old out and helped him to Adirondak Loj to be reunited with his group. Resources were clear at 1:10 p.m.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 8 at 8:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of four hikers who couldn't hike out from Marcy Dam because they did not have headlamps. The Marcy Dam Caretaker assisted the group to the Marcy Dam outpost. At 10 p.m., Rangers reached the outpost and determined one of the hikers was suffering from low blood sugar. Rangers helped the hiker and assisted them back to their vehicle at the Adirondak Loj. Resources were clear at 12:30 a.m.

Town of Wells
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 9 at 12:50 p.m., Hamilton County 911 reported a hiker with a leg injury on the Auger Falls trail, a short distance from the trailhead. Forest Ranger Lieutenant Kerr and Rangers Caswell, Hamm, and Thompson responded with the Speculator Fire Department and Wells EMS. Rangers splinted the leg of the 73-year-old from Scotia and Speculator Fire assisted with carrying them out. The subject was transported to the hospital at 2 p.m.

Auger Falls rescue

Town of Addison
Steuben County
Storm Response: On Aug. 9 at 1:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Staples assisted Steuben County first responders with the evacuation of a nursing home ahead of potential flooding from the remnants of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby. Ranger Staples helped residents onto a bus and gathered medications for transport to Corning High School until flooding receded. Luckily, the nursing home did not flood, and residents were able to return safely to the facility.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby flooding

Ranger Staples helps nursing home residents during Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby

Town of Chazy
Clinton County
Public Outreach: On Aug. 10, Forest Ranger Acting Captain Booth and Ranger Odell attended a Touch-A-Truck event at Chazy Recreation Park. The event provides children the opportunity to explore various law enforcement vehicles. Rangers brought two different kinds of trucks and a boat and discussed the duties of a Forest Ranger.

Touch-A-Truck in Chazy

Touch-A-Truck in Chazy

Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., Forest Ranger Gullen received a call from a subject stuck on the other side of Fawn's Leap due to the heavy rainfall and high water. Rangers Fox, Horn, Kreft, and Peterson joined Ranger Gullen and set up a rope system to rescue the 23-year-old from Brooklyn. After successfully raising him from his location, Rangers waded the subject across the Kaaterskill Creek to safety. Resources, including local police and emergency services, were clear at 9:10 p.m.

Fawn's Leap rescue

Fawn's Leap rescue

Becoming A Forest Ranger: Those interested in future opportunities to become a Forest Ranger are encouraged to apply by Aug. 19 to take the next Civil Service exam scheduled this fall. Visit the Civil Service website to learn more.

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.

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