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.
Essex County
Town of Keene
Wilderness Rescue: On September 17th at 6 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker in medical distress on the summit of Basin Mountain. Ranger Lewis made contact with the group of hikers with a subject who has a history of cardiac issues and was lethargic, vomiting uncontrollably, and unable to move on his own. Ranger Lewis requested New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation for a hoist rescue. The helicopter launched from Lake Clear with Ranger O’Connor serving as crew chief. Ranger Lewis was hoisted to the 70-year-old from Quebec and packaged him in a harness so Ranger O’Connor could successfully hoist the subject into the helicopter. The hiker went to Adirondack Medical Center for treatment and was released. Resources were clear at 1 am.
Lewis County
Town of Watson
Wilderness Rescue: On September 14th at 1 pm, Forest Rangers responded to the Otter Creek horse trails in the Independence Wild Forest after receiving reports of a subject who was thrown from her horse, suffering a possible spine injury. Martinsburg Fire Department arrived on scene and secured the 32-year-old from Clarence Center to a back board. Ranger Evans arrived with a six-wheeler and customized litter carrier to transport the patient to a waiting Lewis County Search and Rescue ambulance. Resources were clear by 1:45 pm.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
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