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.

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Town of Keene, Essex County

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Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 6 at 10:40 a.m., off-duty Forest Ranger Adams came across a hiker who had fallen and dislocated their shoulder on Saddleback Mountain. New York State Police Aviation was approved. Ranger Lieutenant Kerr served as hoist operator on the helicopter and lowered a NYSP medic to splint the subject’s shoulder and prepare the 30-year-old from Quebec for a hoist. Lt. Kerr successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. Pilots Betts and Drindak flew them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 12:30 p.m.

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Town of Brighton, Franklin County

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Wilderness Search: On Aug. 6 at 7:46 p.m., New York State Police requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing 79-year-old with dementia. Eight Rangers worked with NYSP units using drones, a blood hound, and local fire departments. The overnight search yielded negative results. The following morning, 21 Rangers, nine fire departments, five NYSP units, NYSP Aviation, six members of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks, and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement joined the efforts. At 10:55 a.m., Forest Ranger Nahor located the subject in good physical health other than minor scrapes.

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Town of Keene, Essex County

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Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 7 at 1:13 p.m., Forest Ranger Curcio received a call from an 18-year-old hiker 50 yards off the summit of Mount Marcy complaining of fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and vomiting. The hiker from New Jersey had also run out of water, which the summit steward provided. Once rehydrated, the teenager told Ranger Curcio they could hike the Van Hoevenberg trail on their own. While hiking in, Ranger Curcio continued checking in on the subject. At 5 p.m., Rangers met the group one mile above Indian Falls. The hiker was moving well, but Rangers provided electrolytes and food out of an abundance of caution and escorted the group to Marcy Dam and then to the Adirondak Loj.

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.

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Town of Lake Luzerne, Warren County

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Public Outreach: On Aug. 8, Forest Rangers Clute and Geyer spent the day at Hadley Youth Camp. Rangers talked about hiking safety and preparedness, and how Rangers perform search and rescue operations. Campers also wished Smokey Bear a happy birthday.

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Town of Hunter, Greene County

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Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 8 at 2:43 p.m., Greene County 911 reached out to Forest Ranger Fox about a hiker at Kaaterskill Falls trail suffering from heat exhaustion. At 5:06 p.m., Ranger Commerford and Assistant Forest Rangers Massa and Zeleznik reached the 62-year-old from New Jersey. The subject was complaining of weakness, dizziness, and exhaustion, and was also a diabetic. Rangers provided electrolytes and food, which enabled the hiker to continue the hike out.

At 5:14 p.m., they started walking with the subject and their hiking group when Rangers were met by a Greene County Paramedic and Tannersville Fire Department. At 5:25 p.m., everyone exited the woods and the patient was turned over to Hunter EMS.

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. DEC also encourages checking the forecast before an adventure and if it’s too hot, consider hiking a different day.

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Town of Santa Clara, Franklin County

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Wildland Fire: On Aug. 10 at 6:52 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a wildland fire near Little Long Pond in the St. Regis Canoe Area. Forest Rangers Corey and Ordway responded. By 12:24 a.m., Rangers brought the fire under control.

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Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County

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Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 10 at 7:05 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a third-party Garmin SOS activation stating “sick, injured, broken, dislocated” in the Sawtooth Mountains. At 9:51 p.m., Forest Rangers made contact with the subject and provided care to the subject. Based on the patient assessment, Rangers determined the hiker could walk out overnight. At 12:05 a.m., Rangers assisted the subject to the trailhead.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. At dec.ny.gov, 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: http://on.ny.gov/NYSForestRangerRoster.