DEC FOREST RANGERS - WEEK IN REVIEW
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.
During the first nine months of 2026, Forest Rangers conducted 277 search and rescue missions, extinguished 93 wildfires covering more than 224 acres, and participated in 54 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,355 acres of land. 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.”
Town of Leicester
Livingston County
Training: On October 5, Forest Rangers, New York State Park Police, and New York State Police (NYSP) conducted hoist training at Letchworth State Park. Rangers honed their skills by hoisting subjects via NYSP helicopter and refreshed their on-the-ground patient packaging with New York State Park Police Officers.
Hoist training at Letchworth State Park
Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 5 at 1:41 p.m., Forest Rangers Martin and Schweider responded to a call from the Catskill Summit Steward about a subject with a rapid heartbeat and dizziness at the Red Hill Mountain Fire Tower. Rangers and the Summit Steward assisted the 22-year-old from New Jersey to the Denning Road trailhead where they were met by Livingston Manor EMS. The incident was clear at 3:30 p.m.
Town of Brookhaven
Suffolk County
Law Enforcement: On October 5 at 9:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Hicks arrested a 71-year-old from Center Moriches with a history of vandalizing/tagging properties in the area with political messaging. In the most recent incident, the subject tagged a portion of Eastport Conservation Area in the Pine Barrens State Forest. The Ranger transported the suspect to the New York State Police Riverside barracks. The subject was charged with making graffiti and released on an appearance ticket.
Town of Nichols
Tioga County
Search: On October 6 at 12:20 a.m., Forest Ranger Oldroyd responded to a call from Tioga County about a nine-year-old who wasn’t seen since 5 p.m. Seven Rangers, local law enforcement, and members of the Nichols Fire Department conducted linear searches throughout the night. Drone and K9 resources continued searching in the morning. By 7:10 p.m., search crews covered a half-mile radius around the home with negative results. More resources were requested through the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Watch Center and Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. They planned to conduct aerial searches the following morning. On October 7 at 3 a.m., Tioga County Sheriff’s Deputies and New York State Police found the child in good health and transferred them to the care of a Tioga Center Ambulance.
Hamlet of Sanborn
Niagara County
Training: On October 6, 7, and 9, Forest Rangers Robitaille and Streczywilk assisted with instructing defensive tactics for the 2026 academy for peace officers. The training was sponsored by the Town of Wheatfield Constable Department and held at Niagara County Community College.
Defensive tactics training
Town of Harrieststown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 7 at 11:32 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker on Ampersand Mountain assisting another hiker suffering from extreme abdominal pain. Forest Ranger Bowler and Saranac Lake Rescue Squad made contact with the 27-year-old from Nebraska approximately one mile from the trailhead. They treated the patient until Rangers Adams, Jeffery, and Lewis arrived with ATVs to transport the subject to the trailhead to an awaiting ambulance. The incident was clear at 1:48 p.m.
Ampersand rescue
Hamlet of Keene Valley
Essex County
Training: On October 8, five Forest Ranger instructors worked with 22 Rangers on technical rope rescue training. Rangers scaled the Beer Walls in the Chapel Pond area.
Rope training
Rope training
Town of Ticonderoga
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 8 at 3:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an overdue hiker off trail near the Putnam Pond Campground in the Pharoah Lake Wilderness. At 6:20 p.m., Rangers Jeffery and Odell reached the subject, provided warm clothes, and rehydrated them. Rangers Martin and Quinn used ATVs to assist the 76-year-old from Troy out of the woods. The incident was clear at 10:15 p.m.
Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On October 8 at 4:43 p.m., Forest Rangers McMahon and Sabo responded to a fire at Rock Pond. By 8:30 p.m., Rangers contained the fire. The fire started as a campfire and was left unattended.
Campers should never leave a fire unattended. When putting out a fire, drown it with water and make sure all embers and coals are wet, and then stir the water around to make sure the ground is wet as well. More campfire safety tips are available on the DEC website.
Rock Pond fire
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 9 at 8:30 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a lower leg injury on Cascade Mountain. Forest Rangers Ezumah and Foutch splinted the 55-year-old's leg and carried them down to the trailhead. At 9:50 a.m., Rangers turned over care to Lake Placid EMS.
Town of Johnstown
Fulton County
Wilderness Search: On October 9 at 11:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Massa, Nally, and O’Connell responded to a call for a hiker off-trail in the Willie Wildlife Marsh area of Peck Hill State Forest. Rangers located the 76-year-old from Caroga Lake and escorted them back to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 1:35 p.m.
Village of Pulaski
Oswego County
Public Outreach: On October 9, Forest Rangers Petit and Vaile participated in First Responders Day at the Ringgold Fire Department. The children from Pulaski Academy and School District tested the gear and hand tools used by Rangers while fighting fires.
Ranger Petit at first responder day in Pulaski
Rangers Petit and Vaile at first responder day in Pulaski
City of Albany
Albany County
Prescribed Burn: On October 10, Forest Ranger Black joined DEC staff from the Division of Lands and Forests, New York State Parks, New York Air National Guard, and staff from the Albany Pine Bush to conduct a 13-acre controlled burn in the Albany Pine Bush.
Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. 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 ensure safety and meet land management goals.
Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn crew
Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Search: On October 10 at 12:39 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker’s family member reporting a hiking group lost on Seward Mountain. The hiker sent a satellite text to the family member asking them to call Forest Rangers for help. Unbeknownst to the family, the hiker also sent satellite messages directly to the Rangers. Rangers Jeffery and Lewis conducted a ground search and Ranger Martin searched from the air with New York State Police Aviation. At 3:44 p.m., Rangers Jeffery and Lewis located the hikers from Staten Island packing up camp near Ward Brook. They were not lost. It turns out, the previous day, Ranger Lewis fielded two satellite messages from the same hiker and both times, Ranger Lewis guided them back onto the trail. It is likely that the satellite message to the family member was delayed in sending until they had better cell service.
Town of Copake
Columbia County
Public Outreach: On October 10, Forest Ranger Commerford participated in Autumn in the Park at Taconic State Park. The event was hosted by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Ranger Commerford showed the public the different equipment used by Rangers. Ranger Commerford and Smokey Bear also demonstrated the importance of fire safety.
Autumn in the Park
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 10 at 9:33 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from three hikers without a light source on Marble Mountain. Forest Rangers Jeffery and Lewis located the two 20-year-olds and 14-year-old. They were relying on their cell phone for light, but that quickly drains the phone’s battery. Rangers provided headlamps and assisted the group out of the woods. The incident was clear at 10:42 p.m. Rangers suggest bringing more than one headlamp and extra batteries along with the rest of the 10 hiking essentials.
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 11 at 7:16 p.m., a hiker called 911, said their phone was about to die, and then lost connection. Coordinates placed the caller on the Flume Trail in Wilmington Wild Forest. Forest Rangers Bode and Lewis located the two hikers in the dark, without a light source. The two 18-year-olds made a wrong turn after hiking Whiteface Mountain. Rangers assisted them to the trailhead and the incident was clear at 8:23 p.m.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 12 at 5:41 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker who fell 15 feet on the Escarpment Trail near Sunset Rock. Rangers Betts, Commerford, Dawson, Fox, Rigano, and Rusher treated and warmed the patient. They carried the 47-year-old from Manhattan using a combination of ropes, a litter, and wheeled litter to an awaiting LifeNet helicopter that transported the patient to the hospital. The incident was clear at 10:30 p.m.
Escarpment trail rescue
Escarpment trail rescue
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 12 at 10:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a 77-year-old with a possible broken leg on Big Slide Mountain. Ten Forest Rangers responded via Johns Brook Lodge. At 7 a.m., Rangers treated the hiker and made it to within 1.5 miles of the lodge. Rangers cleared downed trees and branches on the trail and continued carrying the subject. At 11:40 a.m., they reached the trailhead. The hiker said they would seek further medical treatment on their own. Video of Rangers carrying the subject using backpack carriers through rough terrain and heavy rain is available to download, here.
Big Slide rescue
Big Slide rescue
Town of Pawling
Dutchess County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 13 at 1:45 p.m., Forest Ranger Pries responded to a call for a hiker with a medical issue on the blue trail in the Appalachian Trail corridor. Ranger Pries and Lieutenant Casey from the Beekman Fire Department drove to the Nuclear Lake parking lot and hiked the rest of the way. At 2:30 p.m., they reached the 64-year-old from Connecticut who was feeling better. Rescuers walked the subject out to an Empress Ambulance for further evaluation. The incident was clear at 3:50 p.m.
Town of Wawarsing
Ulster County
Wilderness Search: On October 13 at 6:45 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a missing hunter along Irish Cape Road. The 83-year-old from New Jersey was tracking an injured bear from the previous day’s hunt and got lost. At 7 p.m., Ranger Franceschina made phone contact with the hunter and told them to call 911 so Rangers could obtain the phone coordinates. At 8:25 p.m., NYSP and Ranger Horn located the hunter in good health and escorted them out of the woods.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 13 at 9:15 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about two dehydrated hikers on the Mink Hollow Trail in the Indian Head Wilderness Area. At 11:32 p.m., Forest Ranger Fox reached the two subjects from Pennsylvania, rewarmed them, provided food and water, and escorted them out of the woods. The incident was clear at 1:30 a.m.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 14 at 7:20 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker who suffered a lower leg injury on the Kaaterskill Falls trail. Rangers Fox and Rigano, Hunter Police, Tannersville Rescue, a Greene County Medic, Haines Falls Fire Department, Greene County Twin Clove Technical Rescue, Hunter Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, and New York State Police reached the 44-year-old, treated the injury, and used a wheeled litter to transport them to the Laurel House Trailhead. Hunter Ambulance evaluated the patient. The incident was clear at 9:45 p.m.
Town of Dickinson
Franklin County
Wilderness Search: On October 15 at 10:03 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for an overdue hunter in Deer Run State Forest. Seven Rangers and a NYSP drone team responded. At 2 a.m., Ranger Corey located the hunter in good health and assisted them back to their nearby residence.
Town of Red House
Cattaraugus County
Wilderness Search: On October 16 at 12:14 a.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for an overdue hunter in Allegany State Park. Nine Rangers, New York State Park Police, Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue, the Chautauqua County Search Team, and NYSP drone and canine teams searched through the night. At 9:54 a.m., New York State Park Police conducting a linear search along a trail located the hunter in good health. The hunter did not have a cell phone or a light. When it started raining that night, the hunter sat down under a tree for shelter until the rain stopped in the morning.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On October 17 at 9:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 about two hikers without lights on Second Brother Mountain. Forest Rangers Curcio and Foutch responded to the coordinates and located the hikers at 1 a.m. Rangers provided headlamps and escorted them back to the trailhead.
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