February 25, 2026

DEC Forest Rangers – Week in Review

Recent Statewide Forest Ranger Actions

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 Schaghticoke
Rensselaer County
Wilderness Search: On February 18 at 5:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Jackson responded to a call for a missing subject, possibly in the woods near a local business. The subject’s sister called in the report. New York State Police (NYSP) and Ranger Jackson located the subject’s truck and footprints into the woods. At 6:50 p.m., they located the subject, who had built a fire for warmth, near the Hudson River in good health. The subject stated they were suicidal. Rescuers convinced the subject to walk out of the woods with them. NYSP transported the subject to Samaritan Hospital.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, help is available. Call or text 988 for New York State’s free 24-hour hotline You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Town of Broome
Schoharie County
Stranded Vehicle: On February 19 at 1:35 p.m., Schoharie County Dispatch called Forest Ranger France about a vehicle from Utica that was stuck on the Fawn Ridge Road truck trail at Stone Store State Forest. Ranger France responded by snowmobile with NYSP and the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office. They located the truck half a mile from the plowed section of the trail. The three people in the truck said they were planning on squirrel hunting when they became stuck while driving down the unplowed trail at 7 a.m. and were unable to quickly find a tow truck operator. Eventually, a tow company came with a skid steer to remove the truck. Resources were clear at 4:05 p.m.

Stranded vehicle in Broome

Town of Crown Point
Essex County
Stranded Vehicles: On February 19 at 6 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to the scene of a two vehicles stuck on the Stony Lonesome Road seasonal snowmobile trail. Rangers provided a courtesy ride to the operator and made arrangements with a tow company to remove the vehicles in daylight the next day. On February 20 at 11:30 a.m., a tow company removed the vehicles.

Stranded vehicles in Crown Point

Stranded vehicles in Crown Point

Town of Caroga
Fulton County
Snowmobile Accident: On February 20 at 11:30 p.m., NYSP requested Forest Ranger assistance with a snowmobile accident on private land. One Ranger, NYSP, and the Caroga Fire Department brought the unresponsive subject to a Fulton County Emergency Management vehicle for transport to Nathan Littauer Hospital.

Village of Milford
Otsego County
Training: On February 21, Forest Ranger Laymon assisted with flat ice rescue training for the Milford Volunteer Fire Department. Training with the fire department’s hovercraft, firefighters learned different rescue techniques on Goodyear Lake.

Flat ice rescue training

Town of Altona
Clinton County
Stranded Vehicles: On February 21 at 7:56 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about two stranded vehicles on a snowmobile trail off Rock Road. At 10:31 p.m., Forest Rangers Odell and Russell freed one of the two vehicles. The second posed no threat to snowmobilers. Rangers contacted the local snowmobile club to coordinate the removal of the second vehicle with the vehicle’s owner.

Stranded vehicles in Altona

Stranded vehicles in Altona

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

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