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."

Town of Plainfield
Otsego County
Law Enforcement: On Aug. 7 at 11:10 a.m., Forest Rangers France and Laymon investigated a report of people living on Mason Road in Plainfield State Forest. After talking with the campers and running their data through Otsego County 911, Ranger Laymon discovered one of the subjects was wanted on warrants from Chenango County, Oneida County, and Utica Police for multiple charges including criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal contempt. Rangers took the subject into custody without incident and transferred them to the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 12 at 9:27 p.m., Forest Rangers H. and R. Praczkajlo responded to a call for an overheated/exhausted hiker on Marble Mountain. At 11 p.m., Rangers reached the subject and helped the 27-year-old from Avon down the mountain.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 5 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the spouse of an overdue 72-year-old hiker in the Sawtooth Mountain range. Forest Rangers searched into the night. At 2 a.m., Rangers located the subject from Connecticut and by 4:28 a.m., Rangers reunited the subject and their family at the Seward trailhead.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 3:15 p.m., a hiker called for help after taking an unexpected route from Cascade trailhead to Marcy Field over Blueberry Mountain. The 41-year-old from Massena was out of water and cramping. At 4:55 p.m., Forest Ranger H. Praczkajlo located the subject, rehydrated them, and helped them back on the Blueberry trail. At 7 p.m., they reached the subject's vehicle at the trailhead.

DEC encourages hikers to bring plenty of food and water for their hike in case the hike lasts longer than expected. Proper preparation for a hike can reduce bouts of cramping and dehydration.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 10:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the friend of a hiker who said the hiker is frantic and in need of assistance. The 36-year-old from Webster was out of water and their phone was dying. The hiker's car was at Round Pond trailhead, but the phone's coordinates placed them coming down the Bouquet Forks trail. At 12:20 a.m., Forest Ranger Lewis reached the subject, rehydrated them, and assisted them down the trail and reunited them with the caller.

Town of Windham
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 15 at 5:45 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker with an unstable ankle injury approximately two miles up the trail of Black Dome Mountain. At 9 p.m., Rangers reached the 68-year-old from Oneonta. Rangers successfully packaged the hiker and carried them out to the trailhead by 1 a.m.

Black Dome Mountain rescue

Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 15 at 6:52 p.m., Forest Ranger Miller discovered a wildland fire on Big Island in Raquette Lake. By 11 p.m., Ranger Miller had the 0.1-acre fire, caused by a campfire, under control. DEC encourages campers to never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is cold to the touch after it's extinguished.

Big Island fire

Town of Walton
Delaware County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 16 at 7:24 a.m., Delaware County requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a 68-year-old with dementia. The subject's niece dropped off the subject from Rhode Island the previous evening and believed they left the home overnight. New York State Police deployed a K9 unit and the Delaware County Sheriff's Office flew a drone. Rangers worked with fire departments on linear searches. At 10:40 a.m., one of the ground crews located the subject sitting in a stone quarry. Walton EMS transported the patient to the hospital for an evaluation.

Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 17 at 4 p.m., Forest Ranger Miller responded to a call for a brush fire on the side of Deerland Road. It was caused by a campfire that spread to the woods. Upon arrival, the Long Lake Fire Department already had the fire under control, and Ranger Miller assisted with managing on hot spots to ensure the fire was extinguished.

Long Lake Fire Deerland Road

Town of Waverly
Franklin County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 16 at 10:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiking group reporting they were off trail on Azure Mountain and didn't know how to get back. At 11:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Rooney located the hikers, aged 37, 15, and 10, and assisted them back to the trailhead. While the subjects lost their way, they did have water, headlamps, and extra layers of clothing, which sustained them for the longer-than-expected hike.

Town of Bethel
Sullivan County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 17 at 11:15 p.m., White Lake Fire Department requested Forest Ranger assistance with a search for a missing hiker on Boy Scout property. The 21-year-old called 911 to report they were lost and their cell phone battery was dying. They did have water, a whistle, and extra layers of clothing. Sullivan County Sheriff's Office launched a drone to assist in the search. Rangers Franke and Schweider conducted linear searches with White Lake Fire Department. At 12:30 a.m., Ranger Schweider and the White Lake Fire Department made voice contact with the subject from Brooklyn. They reached the subject 15 minutes later, provided electrolytes, and transported the subject to the command post for EMS evaluation. Resources were clear at 2 a.m.

Bethel rescue

Town of Ticonderoga
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug.18 at 3:30 p.m., Essex County 911 reported an injured hiker to Ray Brook Dispatch. The report indicated the 21-year-old from Rocky Point suffered a head injury after falling from a cliff by Rock Pond near Putnam Pond. At 5:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Quinn located the subject and determined they fell 20-30 feet down the slope towards the water. The hiker suffered multiple lacerations but showed no signs or symptoms of a head injury. After assessing for any spinal injury, Ranger Quinn walked out with the subject and then took them by boat to the Putnam Boat Launch to meet family.

Cliff near Rock Pond

Becoming A Forest Ranger: Those interested in future opportunities to become a Forest Ranger are encouraged to apply by Sept. 17 to take the next Civil Service exam scheduled this fall. The exam is a multiple-choice test. All candidates who are qualified to take the entry-level law enforcement exam will receive an admission notice via mail approximately two weeks prior to the date of the written test with additional details. 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.