March 17, 2026

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.

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.”

Village of Sherburne
Chenango County
Public Outreach: On February 14, Forest Rangers attended the annual Winter Living Celebration at DEC’s Rogers Environmental Education Center. More than 1,000 people enjoyed the program where Rangers demonstrated self-rescue techniques for potential falls in icy water.

Ice rescue demonstration

Ice rescue demonstration

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Stranded Vehicle: On March 1, Forest Rangers Adams, Corey, Jeffery, and Rooney responded to a call for a stranded motorist on South Meadows Lane, an unmaintained seasonal road. Rangers and a local tow company moved the vehicle out of the deep snow. DEC reminds drivers to use caution while using seasonal, unplowed roads.

Stranded motorist on South Meadows Lane

Village of Trumansburg
Tompkins County
Search: On March 3 at 9:47 a.m., Environmental Conservation Police Officer Krueger called Forest Ranger Lunt about a missing 10-year-old near the intersection of New York State Route 96 and Halseyville Road. Six Rangers joined the search with New York State Police, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ulysses Fire Department. The family reported the child missing at 6:30 a.m. They last saw the child the prior night at bedtime. At 1 a.m., there was a reported sighting on New York State Route 96. At 10:40 a.m., the child walked out of the woods towards Trumansburg Highway employees. The child was evaluated by Trumansburg Emergency Medical Services. Resources were clear at 12:10 p.m.

Town of New Windsor
Orange County
Wilderness Recovery: On March 6, Forest Ranger Jahn set up new search areas to assit in locating a missing 60-year-old. Police first began searching on February 19. At 2:36 p.m., Ranger Jahn found the subject deceased in a wooded area behind his residence, Rangers, New Windsor Police, and New Windsor Emergency Medical Services transported him out of the woods to the Orange County Medical Examiner.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers its condolences to the family.

Village of Saranac Lake
Essex County
Rangers Win: On March 7 during their day off, six Forest Rangers participated in the Saranac Lake 3P (Pedal, Paddle, Pole.) The Forest Ranger team finished first in the team event.

Rangers H. Praczkajlo, Adams, Corey,Morehouse, Scott, and R. Praczkajlo at Saranac Lake 3P

Town of Fine
St. Lawrence County
Search: On March 8 at 7:30 a.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a 70-year-old last seen leaving their residence the previous evening. Two Rangers joined the search. At 9:10 a.m., NYSP found the subject walking along the road half a mile from the residence.

Town of Williamstown
Oswego County
Training: On March 8, Forest Rangers taught the basic search class to members of the Oswego County Search and Rescue Team. The classroom portion of the class took place at the Parish Fire Department and the field portion took place at DEC’s Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area. Rangers often work with search and rescue teams on actual incidents, so training together is an important step in ensuring successful missions in the future.

Rangers lead basic search class

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On March 8 at 3:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a skier with an unstable lower leg injury on the Mount Van Hoevenberg Trail at the Phelps junction. Forest Rangers reached the 33-year old, splinted the leg, and assisted them back to South Meadows Road. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.

Mount Van Hoevenberg Trail rescue

Town of Santa Clara
Franklin County
Training: On March 9, Forest Rangers Corey and Ordway led flat ice rescue training for 11 Rangers. Rangers refreshed their skills on different strategies to rescue someone who falls into the icy water. Watch a video of the flat ice rescue training (Video, 19MB).

Flat ice rescue training

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Training: On March 9, Forest Rangers Bowler and R. Praczkajlo led backcountry snowmobile training for 12 Rangers. They focused on riding in different depths and types of snow and extracting stuck or crashed snowmobiles.

Snowmobile training

Town of Monroe
Orange County
Public Outreach: On March 9, Forest Rangers Grillo and Kocher met with 20 members of the Monroe-Woodbury Girl Scouts. Troops 15 and 416 are part of Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson which earned their tree badges by completing five steps: exploring tree science, doing tree-related crafts, sampling tree foods, studying tree connections to people, and helping trees thrive. Rangers talked to the girls about what it takes to be a Forest Ranger and what it means to be a role model for girls and young women who want to get into the field of law enforcement.

Rangers Kocher and Grillo with Girl Scouts

Village of Sherburne
Chenango County
Prescribed Fire: On March 10, four Forest Rangers joined staff from DEC’s Rogers Environmental Education Center to conduct a controlled burn of 0.1 acres on Cush Hill. The goal of this fire was to reduce fuels and increase pollinator habitat for education and conservation purposes.

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 meet land management goals.

Prescribed fire on Cush Hill

Prescribed fire on Cush Hill

Torn of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On March 14 at 4:05 p.m. Forest Rangers Duchene and Jansen responded to Nye Mountain for a report of two hikers who lost access to their digital navigation and needed assistance back to the trailhead. The hikers from Syracuse were 1.5 miles up the trail from Indian Pass Brook. At 6:10 p.m., Rangers reached the subjects and escorted them back to Adirondak Loj.

Town of Bath
Steuben County
Wildland Fire: On March 15 at 2:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Miller joined firefighters at a wildland fire off Robie Road near Moss Hill State Forest. By 3:33 p.m., fire crews extinguished the 10.9-acre fire caused by burning debris. New York’s annual spring brush burning ban went into effect on March 16 and lasts until May 14.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “ Hike Smart NY,” “ Adirondack Backcountry,” 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.

Contact for this Page Jeff Wernick
Press Office
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

Phone: 518-402-8000 [email protected] This Page Covers New York State Icon