ALBANY, NY — 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 the backcountry.
In 2018, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 346 search and rescue missions, extinguished 105 wildfires that burned a total of 845 acres, participated in 24 prescribed fires that burned and rejuvenated 610 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in 2,354 tickets or arrests.
“Across New York, DEC Forest Rangers are on the front lines helping people safely enjoy the great outdoors,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Their knowledge of first aid, land navigation, and technical rescue techniques are critical to the success of their missions, which take them from remote wilderness areas with rugged mountainous peaks, to white-water rivers, and throughout our vast forested areas statewide.”
Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers include:
Town of Mexico
Oswego County
Rescue: On Feb. 2 at approximately 10:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Jackson and Environmental Conservation Police Officer Dorrett responded to a snowmobile accident reported by Oswego County Dispatch. The subject had reportedly struck a tree. Ranger Jackson responded to the scene on a snowmobile and utilized its emergency lighting to protect the accident scene from oncoming recreational snowmobile traffic. The Ranger assisted Mexico Fire Department and McFee Ambulance personnel with placing the conscious subject on a backboard and litter. The patient was then transported to the road by fire and ambulance personnel and brought to the hospital.