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 Ticonderoga
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 26 at 10:10 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers unable to follow the trail down Cook Mountain. Forest Ranger Quinn attempted to talk the hikers back onto the trail, but they lost it again. At 11:20 p.m., Ranger Quinn located the 47-year-old and 11-year-old from Ticonderoga and helped them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:15 a.m.

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wildland Fire and Law Enforcement: On Aug. 27 at 8:19 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an out-of-control campfire on Lower Saranac Lake campground. Saranac Lake Fire Department and two Forest Rangers responded. By 12:45 a.m., the fire department extinguished the approximately 50-foot-by-50-foot fire. The responsible party, accompanied by two other people, used gasoline to start the fire in a fire ring, but the fire quickly burned outside the ring's perimeter. The three subjects left the island in their boat to avoid getting burned. Rangers issued two tickets to the 28-year-old responsible for starting the fire due to not clearing three feet from the fire ring and not having enough personal floatation devices in a boat. Rangers brought the party back to clean up their belongings and evicted the trio from the campground.

Lower Saranac Lake campground fire

Lower Saranac Lake campground fire

Town of Ohio
Herkimer County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 27 at 8:50 p.m., Herkimer County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for four hikers lost off trail near Limekiln Lake campground. Cell phone coordinates placed the group from Rochester approximately one-half mile off the Limekiln Loop trail. At 10:30 p.m., Forest Rangers located the hikers near the creek and escorted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:30 a.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 27 at 8:56 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from three climbers stranded while hiking the rock slabs off of Pyramid Mountain. The climbers from Virginia reached a point where they couldn't go any further because of a steep drop. The climbers were intentionally off trail but were not prepared for the challenging conditions. At 1:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Rooney reached the climbers and helped them through steep slopes, rock slabs, and thicket. They reached the trailhead at 3:35 a.m. Video of part of the rescue is available for download (video, 143 MB).

Climber rescued near Pyramid Mountain

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 28 at 8 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received an SOS call from two hikers near Little Whiteface Mountain. The pair didn't have headlamps, extra clothing, or cell phone chargers. At 10:01 p.m., Forest Rangers DuChene and Praczkajlo reached the 22-year-olds from Canada and helped them back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 10:25 p.m.

DEC reminds outdoor adventurers to plan ahead and prepare for changing conditions. Follow the 10 hiking essentials.

Town of Inlet
Hamilton County
Campground Rescue: On Aug. 29 at 3 p.m., Forest Ranger Snye responded to a call at the Brown Tract Pond Campground for an injured camper. The 35-year-old from Rochester had fallen from a hammock and suffered a hip injury. Ranger Snye stabilized the subject and helped him into an ambulance. Resources were clear at 3:25 p.m.

Village of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 29 at 9:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Donegan responded to a call for a hiker with a lower leg injury approximately one mile up on Buck Mountain. When Ranger Donegan arrived, the 36-year-old from Hudson Falls was unable to walk. Ranger Donegan stabilized the hiker's leg. Pilot Knob Fire Department drove the subject down on an ATV to a Queensbury ambulance.

Town of Kent
Putnam County
Law Enforcement: On Aug. 30, Forest Rangers Cowart, Pries, and Russo conducted a boat patrol at White Pond Multiple Use Area. Rangers cut down three illegal rope swings along the shoreline, checked boat registrations, and wrote two violations for not having personal floatation devices on board. They also helped a young angler remove a fish from her line.

Rangers help young anglers on White Pond

Village of Lake Placid
Essex County
Public Outreach: On Aug. 30, Forest Rangers, DEC Environmental Conservation Police Office Okunuk, and New York State Police (NYSP) Trooper D'Ambro escorted Ed McCasland from his home in Lake Placid to Plattsburg so he could participate in the North County Honor Flight Program. The program provides Veterans with free trips to Washington, D.C. to pay their respects at the war memorials. Ed is the father of DEC Dispatcher McCasland.

Rangers, ECO, and Trooper escort for honor flight

Ed McCasland in Washington, D.C.

Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker with a broken ankle on Algonquin Peak. The 28-year-old from Pleasantville reported he was experiencing numbness in his foot. NYSP Aviation Pilots Sgt. Anderton and Drindak were called in to assist. Forest Ranger Lewis reached the hiker and harnessed him. Ranger Praczkajlo successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter, and they were flown to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:25 p.m.

Ranger Praczkajlo and subject after successful hoist on Algonquin Peak

Town of Fine
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 30 at 5:58 p.m., Forest Ranger Benzel responded to a search call in the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest. Two hikers had left in the morning without any gear or food and were expected back by noon. Rangers Benzel and Hanno searched the area south of the hikers' campsite. At 10:07 p.m., Ranger Hanno was shouting the names of the hikers when they responded, "We're here!" Ranger Hanno located the 30-year-old and 35-year-old from Gouverneur on the east side of Mullins Marsh Creek, approximately 1.5 miles from the campsite. Ranger Hanno provided flashlights and guided the pair back to their camp. Resources were clear at 1:35 a.m.

Village of Canaseraga
Allegany County
Law Enforcement: On Aug. 30 at 11:50 p.m., Allegany County Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Thaine about an underage drinking party on Klipnocky State Forest. Ranger Thaine responded with New York State Police and issued two tickets for possessing alcohol while under 21 and starting a fire in a State parking area.

Town of Clinton
Dutchess County
Public Outreach: On Aug. 31, Forest Ranger Russo attended Clinton Community Day. Ranger Russo talked with visitors from all over Dutchess County about what it takes to be a Forest Ranger and helped spread the message of wildfire prevention with Smokey Bear. Ranger Russo showed the gear Forest Rangers carry in their vehicles and let children try on a fire helmet.

Clinton Community Day

Town of Ohio
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 31 at 8:38 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the Limekiln Lake Campground Caretaker reporting two adults and three children, ages four, six, and 10, overdue from a nature trail hike. The hikers were not prepared for a night hike and were expected back before dark. Forest Rangers Miller, McCartney, Murphy, and Scott searched multiple trails in the area. Rangers Miller and Scott followed the children's footprints. Rangers also found garbage bags, clothing, and burned materials and determined the hikers were off trail and following old logging roads in the Fulton Chain Wild Forest. Rangers McCartney and Murphy were searching with the father of one of the missing children. At 12:54 a.m., Rangers Miller and Scott located the missing hikers and provided water. Rangers worked with Webb Police who drove to within one-half mile of the group's location and drove them back to the campground to reunite with their families. Resources were clear at 3 a.m.

Rangers find missing Limekiln Lake campground hikers

Town of Webb
Herkimer County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 1 at 2 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker on Bald Mountain with a possible cardiac issue. The 68-year-old from Brewerton had a history of cardiac events. An off-duty paramedic and nurse were with the hiker. Forest Rangers Bills, McCartney, and Pelrah reached the subject and helped him back to the trailhead to a waiting ambulance. Resources were clear at 3:57 p.m.

Town of Woodstock
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 1 at 3 p.m., a camper at Echo Lake reported his brother had suffered a back injury and could not walk out on his own. Five Forest Rangers and the Woodstock Fire Department made it to the lake by 6 p.m. They packaged the subject into a wheeled litter and transported him to a fire department UTV. The fire department drove the subject to a Woodstock ambulance. Resources were clear at 9:15 p.m.

Village of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 1 at 5:31 p.m., Forest Ranger Clute responded to a call for a hiker with a foot injury in the Log Bay Picnic Area near Shelving Rock in the Lake George Wild Forest. Ranger Clute worked with local firefighters to help the 58-year-old from Pennsylvania back to her vehicle. Resources were clear at 7 p.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 1 at 7:55 p.m., three hikers on Mount Colden called for help after having trouble following the trail. One of the hikers was also suffering from knee and hip pain. Forest Ranger DuChene spoke to the wife of one of the hikers who indicated the trio had been caught in a rainstorm and were wet and cold with only one headlamp among them. Ranger DuChene was joined by Rangers Lewis, O'Connor, and Praczkajlo who headed into Marcy Dam. At 9:55 p.m., Rangers reached the hikers, provided basic first aid, headlamps, and warm clothes. They hiked out of the woods and reached their vehicle at 12:51 a.m.

Checking the weather ahead of time, having a map and compass, and knowing how to use them would have likely prevented the need for this rescue.

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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