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.
Town of Wilmington
Wilderness Rescue: On May 13 at 8:55 a.m., a hiker called Essex County 911 about an angler with a possible broken leg off the Flume Trail System. Forest Rangers DiCintio, O’Connor, and Praczkajlo responded along with Wilmington Fire and Wilmington EMS. The 39-year-old from Canada said he had dragged himself from the water to the riverbank and waited for two hours hoping someone would find him. The angler indicated his foot became trapped in the rapids and he had injured himself trying to get out from under a rock. When Rangers and Wilmington Fire reached the subject, they packaged him into a litter and carried him to the ambulance. Resources were clear at 9:30 a.m.
Town of Hunter
Wilderness Rescue: On May 13 at 4:50 p.m., Forest Rangers Allwine and Rusher responded to a report of an injured hiker on Plateau Mountain. Ranger Allwine reached the Notch Lake trailhead along with Twin Clove Rescue and spoke to the patient’s hiking companions. They indicated two members of the group had stayed with the 64-year-old from Albany. When Ranger Rusher reached the hiker at 7:30 p.m., the subject was complaining of nausea, lethargy, sleepiness, and cramping. Ranger Rusher provided the hiker with electrolytes and fluids. After eating and resting, the hiker began walking out with the help of rescue crews. The group reached the trailhead by 10:30 p.m., where EMS crews determined no further medical care was needed. Centerville Cedar Grove Fire, Kingston Fire, Lanesville Fire, Palenville Fire, Hunter Police, Hunter Ambulance, and Greene County EMS all assisted in the rescue efforts.
Town of Webb
Wilderness Search: On May 15 at 10:55 a.m., 10 Forest Rangers joined the search for a missing three-year-old in the Otter Lake area on the border of Herkimer and Oneida counties. Rangers led the incident command. New York State Police used a drone and a K9 to support the effort. A passerby called 911 after spotting the child at a camp across Lake View Road. One of the volunteer searchers, who was also a family friend, heard the call and yelled the boy’s name. At 1:18 p.m., the volunteer reached the boy and brought him to his parents. Herkimer County Sheriff’s, Inlet Police, Old Forge Fire, Otter Lake Fire, Webb Police, Woodgate Fire, the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement were also involved in the search.
Town of Middleburgh
Wilderness Rescue: On May 11 at 1 p.m., Schoharie County Dispatch reached out to Forest Ranger France about a hiker who felt ill and weak while walking down from the Vroman’s Nose overlook. Rangers Bowler and France hiked in to assist the 73-year-old from Broome. Less than an hour later, Rangers met up with the hiker and provided food and water before helping him back to the trailhead. A family member picked up the subject. Resources were clear at 2:15 p.m.
Town of Woodstock
Wilderness Recue: On May 14 at 1 p.m., a group of hikers from Long Island called for help after losing the trail on their way up Overlook Mountain. New York State Police, Ulster County Sheriff’s, and Woodstock Police began searching. Forest Ranger Franceschina was able to get the group’s coordinates from Ray Brook Dispatch. At 2:13 p.m., Ranger Franceschina reached the subjects, who ranged in age from 13 to 46, in dense mountain laurel approximately a quarter of a mile off the trail. They hikers were in good condition. Ranger Franceschina helped the group back to the trailhead by 3 p.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Forest Ranger Rusher with injured hiker on Plateau Mountain provided by DEC.
Leave a Reply