New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State locating and extracting lost, injured or distressed people and policing state lands.
This report of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers was prepared by DEC:
Town of Lake Luzerne, Warren County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 25 at 9:30 p.m., Forest Rangers Donegan, Morehouse, and Thompson assisted the Corinth and Lake Luzerne Fire Departments with locating a wildland fire reported at the Hudson River Special Management Area.
Firefighters worked into the night on suppression and containment efforts. The following morning, seven Rangers joined other firefighters and achieved 50 percent containment on the two-acre fire in Eddy Swamp.
On Aug. 27 at 6:40 p.m., firefighters fully contained the fire and determined it started from a lightning strike the week prior. Video of the fire is available here.
Town of Peru, Clinton County
Law Enforcement: On Aug 26 at 5:45 p.m., an off-duty Environmental Conservation Police Officer received a call about a subject who had taken a shot at a blue heron at Ausable Point Campground.
Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded and issued tickets to the 33-year-old subject from Hudson Falls for disorderly conduct, disturbing wildlife, and possessing and discharging a firearm in a campground.
The heron was not found. DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement will work with the Division of Forest Protection in the ongoing investigation.
Town of Shandaken, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 29 at 5 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a 911 satellite text via Ulster County from a hiker reporting a group of four was lost near Giant Ledge in the Slide Mountain Wilderness.
The original caller admitted the group had consumed psychedelic mushrooms and one of them was experiencing a debilitating high.
At 6:45 p.m., Forest Rangers Franceschina, Jeffery, and Martin located the group of hikers. Rangers and the Pine Hill Fire Department assisted the subjects to the trailhead where they were evaluated by Shandaken Ambulance.
Somewhere along the way, the hikers also lost their car keys. Rangers provided a courtesy ride to the subjects’ rental lodging.
The following day, Ranger Martin hiked back up and found a sling bag with the keys under a log in tall ferns.
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 29 at 8:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Hamilton County 911 about three lost hikers in the John Dillon Park area.
The trio, ages nine, 50, and 55, had no light source and a very low cellphone battery. At 10 p.m., Forest Ranger Nahor reached the subjects and provided a ride to their vehicle at the park.
Town of Stephentown, Rensselaer County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 30 at 4:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Jackson responded to assist New York State Police in the search for an 89-year-old with dementia. The subject was last seen on a home security camera at 1 p.m.
At 6:20 p.m., search crews located the subject near the residence down an embankment in thick brush, but uninjured. Responders assisted the patient back to their residence where they were met by an ambulance.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 30 at 8:40 p.m., Forest Ranger R. Praczkajlo responded to a call for three hikers on McKenzie Mountain without any light source. Ranger Praczkajlo reached the unprepared group, provided headlamps, and escorted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 10:20 p.m.
Town of Chesterfield, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Bode and Holdridge responded to a call for a hiker who collapsed while hiking Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain.
At 1 p.m., Rangers reached the 30-year-old from Plattsburgh who was conscious, breathing, and able to walk. Rangers ensured the hiker made it to the trailhead. The subject refused further medical assistance.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 31 at 1:15 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call for a missing 14-year-old at Kaaterskill Falls. The subject had last been seen at the lower falls an hour earlier.
At 2 p.m., Assistant Forest Ranger Massa located the subject one and a half miles from the falls, in good health. Ranger Allwine reunited the teenager with their family and resources were clear at 2:30 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 1 at 10:33 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting they were lost in the woods. Dispatch directed the hiker to call 911 so they could obtain coordinates.
Coordinates placed the 69-year-old from Camillus in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness.
At 12:05 a.m., Forest Rangers Corey and Foutch reached the subject and assisted them to the trailhead where they were met by Lake Placid Ambulance. The ambulance transported the patient to the hospital for evaluation.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Lake Luzerne wildfire provided by DEC.
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