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.

As of July 1, Rangers have conducted 139 search and rescue missions in 2025, extinguished 82 wildfires covering nearly 705 acres, and participated in 56 prescribed fires that rejuvenated 1,514 acres of land to date. In 2024, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 122 wildfires covering nearly 6,500 acres, participated in 60 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,155 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests.

"DEC's Forest Rangers bravely protect State-owned and managed lands, as well as the people who use them. Whether conducting a search and rescue call or responding to a wildfire burning out of control, Rangers are always ready when emergencies strike," DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. "Every day and in all conditions, Forest Rangers demonstrate their expertise and leadership in protecting the public and State lands, serving as role models for the next generation of environmental stewards. DEC encourages interested New Yorkers to visit DEC's website to learn how to become the next New York State Forest Ranger."

Towns of Fort Ann and Lake George
Warren and Washington Counties
Training: Over the last two weeks, Forest Ranger Donegan led technical rope rescue training for 22 Rangers at Buck Mountain and the West Brook area. The technician-level training covers advanced rigging techniques to safely conduct rope rescues in complex terrain

Rope rescue training

Rope rescue training

City of Syracuse
Onondaga County
Public Outreach: On Sept. 24 and 25, Forest Ranger Chappell participated with staff from DEC and other agencies in the Empire State of Work event on the SUNY ESF campus. Ranger Chappell spoke to dozens of students from Syracuse University and SUNY ESF about what it takes to become a Forest Ranger.

Ranger Chappell at Empire State of Work

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 24 at 10:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from an off-trail hiker near the summit of Mount Marcy. At 2:40 a.m., Forest Rangers Adams, Corey, and Foutch reached the 65-year-old from Brooklyn, provided food and water, and started heading back to Marcy Dam. At 9:45 a.m., they reached the Marcy Dam Outpost and rewarmed the subject. By 11:30 a.m., Rangers completed escorting the subject to the trailhead.

Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 2 p.m., six Forest Rangers responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury on Devil's Path at Jimmy Dolan Notch between Indian Head and Twin Mountain in the Indian Head Wilderness Area. At 4:30 p.m., Rangers, a Greene County Paramedic, and Hunter EMT reached the subject and determined it was an unstable ankle injury. Due to the terrain and location, Rangers requested a New York State Police (NYSP) helicopter for a hoist rescue. NYSP Pilots Engle and Maycrink, Ranger Lieutenant Gullen, and Ranger Thompson flew to the location and executed a successful hoist. Hunter EMS transported the 29-year-old to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:15 p.m. Video of the hoist rescue is available to download (47MB).

Devil's Path hoist rescue

Town of Alabama
Genesee County
Overdose Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 3 p.m., Forest Ranger Cordell located an incapacitated subject in a vehicle in the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. There was drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Ranger Cordell administered one dose of Narcan to the subject. The subject regained consciousness and was further assisted by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 26 at 4 p.m., New York State Police requested Forest Ranger assistance with a search for two juveniles who ran off into the woods off of River Road. Rangers Martin and Quinn conducted a linear search following the subjects' tracks. At 6:06 p.m., Rangers found the 12- and 15-year-olds unharmed.

Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 27 at 12 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers lost off trail near the summit of Hough Mountain. At 6:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Donegan and Nahor reached the 20- and 21-year-olds. At 9:10 a.m., they made it back to the trailhead.

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 27 at 11:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a possible dislocated shoulder just below the summit of Snowy Mountain. At 1:45 p.m., Forest Rangers reached the 61-year-old, evaluated the injury, and walked the subject to the trailhead to be met by Hamilton County EMS. Resources were clear at 3:50 p.m.

Town or North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 27 at 8 p.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Martin responded to a call for an 18-year-old hiker vomiting at the summit of Beck-Horn Mountain. The hiker was with another 18-year-old with no reported injury or illness. The pair from Wyoming County was prepared with headlamps with extra batteries, extra layers of clothes, and snack bars, but even the most prepared hikers can find themselves in need of rescue. Ranger Martin contacted the hikers and advised them to slowly hike down to stay warm. At 12:25 a.m., Rangers reached the hikers, provided electrolytes and food, and escorted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:52 a.m.

Town of Santa Clara
Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On Sept. 28 at 1:20 p.m., a member of the public contacted Ray Brook dispatch about a campfire that turned into a ground fire along the shoreline of Follensby Clear Pond. Forest Ranger R. Praczkajlo located the fire and determined it was five feet by five feet, and burning three feet deep into the ground. Ranger Praczkajlo suppressed the fire, The following day, it was declared out.

With the current warm and dry conditions, Rangers urge all New Yorkers to exercise extra caution before any outdoor burning.

Follensby Clear Pond ground fire

Town of Johnsburg
Warren County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 28 at 1 p.m., the Warren County Sherriff's Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a hiker lost approximately half a mile from the trailhead on Crane Mountain. At 2:30 p.m., Ranger Donegan used cell phone coordinates to locate the 61-year-old from Sand Lake and assisted them back to the trailhead.

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 28 at 4:54 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker suffering from shortness of breath on Ampersand Mountain trail. At 6 p.m., Forest Rangers and paramedics reached the subject and provided water and electrolytes. They reached the trailhead at 6:54 p.m. and transferred care to EMS.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 28 at 9:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 reporting a hiker near the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain having a hard time navigating their way out. At 2:05 a.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Martin reached the subject at the summit. They escorted the subject back to the Garden trailhead and back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 5 a.m.

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.