Recent NYS DEC Forest Ranger actions:
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 30 at 11:52 a.m., Forest Rangers Evans and Lewis responded to a dropped 911 call reporting a 60-year-old man from Missouri had suffered a knee injury on the Jackrabbit Trail. The Rangers responded to the location, splinted the subject’s leg, and evacuated him using a UTV. By 2:30 p.m., Rangers had returned the subject to the trailhead and transferred him to Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Squad.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 4 at 1:45 p.m., Essex County 911 contacted DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance for a report of a 31-year-old woman from Cobleskill in medical distress after being stung by bees at Owen Pond. Forest Ranger Mecus responded and helped the subject out of the woods. At 2:30 p.m., the woman was transported to a local hospital.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 4 at 7:45 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of hikers at the Roaring Brook Falls trailhead reporting that their friend was overdue from a hike on Giant Mountain. The group last saw the subject at the base of the falls about an hour and a half earlier. Forest Rangers Bode and Lewis responded to assist. At 9:17 p.m., Ranger Bode located the 18-year-old hiker from Oswego. The subject became lost off trail and was unable to find the trail again before dark. Ranger Bode escorted the hiker back to the parking lot where he was reunited with the group. All units were clear of the incident at 10 p.m.
Town of Webb
Herkimer County
State Land Protection: On Sept. 4 at approximately 8:33 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Herkimer County 911 advising of an unattended campfire near the summit of Bald Mountain in the Fulton Chain Wild Forest. Forest Ranger McCartney responded and located a father and son illegally camped in the vicinity of the fire tower. Ranger McCartney observed their campfire burning into a nearby stump and roots, contributing to a small ground fire. Discarded beer cans were observed in and around the campfire. Ranger McCartney extinguished the fire with water and hand tools. Tickets were issued for camping within 150 feet of a trail and for depositing waste on State Land. Ranger McCartney returned the following morning and declared the fire out by 11:30 a.m.
Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, 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.
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