A broken ankle, forest fires

The state Department of Environmental Conservation released today a forest-ranger report for Memorial Day weekend. Nothing too exciting. A broken ankle. A missing hiker who turned up OK. And several small forest fires. The full text of the report follows.

DEC FOREST RANGER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITY REPORT

High Peaks Search & Rescue Incidents

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, at approximately 2:50 PM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call from the husband of Isabella Kicior, 28, of East Rutherford, NJ reporting that his wife had injured her ankle while hiking on the VanHovenberg Trail between Marcy Dam and Indian Falls.

Three DEC Forest Rangers responded to the incident and carried Ms. Kicior down to Marcy Dam. She was transported by a forest ranger vehicle on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail to the South Meadow Road. A Lake Placid Rescue Squad Ambulance transported her from there to the Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid.

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, at approximately 11 PM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call from the wife of Randy Freeman, 57, hometown unknown, reporting that they had been hiking Mt. Marshall in the Town of Newcomb and became separated.  She was concern because Mr. Freeman had minor health issues.  A DEC Forest Ranger was dispatch and encountered Mr. Freeman just before midnight near the Upper Works Trailhead in satisfactory condition

Adirondack Wildland Fires

The dry weather prior to and during the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend resulted in a High Fire Danger Rating and eight wildland fires in the DEC Region 5 portion of the Adirondacks. However, the rains on Tuesday, June 1, have likely put out many of fires and lowered the fire danger. Summary of wildland fires that DEC forest rangers and others responded to over the past 5 days:

• The 0.3 acre Valentine Pond Fire in the Town of Horicon, Warren County, which was started by lightning on May 27, is out.
• The 1.0 acre Wevertown Fire in the Town of Johnsburg, Warren County on Mill Mountain, which was started by fire on May 27, is out.
• The 7.0 acre Skagerack Mountain Fire in the Town of Chesterfield, Essex County, which was started by lightning on May 27, is in patrol status.
• The 3.0 acre Spier Falls Fire in the Town of Corinth, Saratoga County, started on May 28 by lightning, is now in patrol status with forest rangers reporting some hotspots on 6/1.
• The 2.0 acre Ingraham Road Fire in the Town of Chester, Warren County, started on May 31 of unknown origin at this time, is out.
• The 0.5 acre Oven Mountain Lane Fire in the Town of Johnsburg, Warren County, started on May 31 by a structure fire, is out.
• The 0.5 acre Eagle Lake Fire in the Town of Ticonderogra, Essex County, started on May 31 by a campfire, is under control.