New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. 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 and engage in policing on New York State Lands.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers.
Town of North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 23 at 9 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 about a hiker in distress on the Hunters Pass trail in the Adirondack High Peaks‘ town of North Hudson, Essex County. The 32-year-old hiker had injured her knee, and her flashlight was dying. Forest Rangers reached the subject at 11 p.m. and walked her back to the trailhead.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 25 at 2:50 p.m., Forest Rangers DuChene and Foutch responded to a call from a hiker who was lost approximately two miles from the road in the town of Keene, Essex County. Rangers reached the trail at 6:39 p.m., but there was no sign of the hiker.
After checking the north and south forks of the Bouquet River, three additional Rangers joined the search. At 9:43 p.m., Rangers located the subject, warmed her, and escorted her out. Resources were clear at 12:25 a.m.
Town of Hebron, Washington County
Wildland Fire: On April 28 at 4:27 p.m., Forest Ranger Clute responded to assist local fire departments with a brush fire on Higgins Road in the town of Hebron, Washington County. The fire was caused by a campfire that got out of control and grew to 3.7 acres before being contained.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
