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.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers.
Saratoga County
Town of Charlton
Wildland Search: On January 7th at 4:46 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department requesting Forest Ranger assistance with a search for a 33-year-old missing for approximately 24 hours. Two Forest Rangers responded to speak with family members. Three Rangers searched the woods with negative results. On the morning of January 8th, Forest Rangers were joined by members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department Special Operations Team, New York State Police Aviation, and Charlton Police and Fire Departments. At 1:30 pm, a Forest Ranger-led crew found the subject’s body. Responders packaged the body in a wheeled litter and turned him over to the coroner. The Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency for the investigation and does not suspect foul play.
Warren County
Town of Johnsburg
Wilderness Rescue: On January 5th at 6:25 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Warren County requesting Forest Ranger assistance to locate a 30-year-old stranded off trail on Crane Mountain. Forest Ranger Perryman responded to the coordinates provided and reached the hiker within the hour. The hiker was in good condition, but had lost the trail with only a phone for light. Ranger Perryman provided the hiker with a headlamp and assisted her back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:42 pm.
BE PREPARED:
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.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Leave a Reply