Wildfires remain a concern across New York State. Checking the weather before hiking. The temperature and conditions at the top of a mountain are often very different from those at the trailhead.
It’s Mud Season, wildland stewards advise that recreationists should stick to drier lower elevation areas to avoid damaging trails and fragile higher elevation ecosystems.
The following are recent missions carried out by New York State Forest Rangers:
Village of Unadilla, Otsego County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 3:04 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a wildland fire on private land. The fire was started by downed power lines and spread to leaf litter. The Franklin, Sidney, and Unadilla Fire Departments and Rangers contained the 4.1-acre fire by 5:11 p.m.
Town of Fort Ann, Washington County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 4:45 p.m., Washington County 911 called Ray Brook Dispatch for Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire on private land. A tree fell on a powerline causing a 0.5-acre grass fire. By 6:45 p.m., firefighters declared the fire out,
Town of Northumberland, Saratoga County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 5:40 p.m., the Gansevoort Fire Chief requested Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire. Two Rangers assisted Schuylerville, South Glens Falls, and Victory Mills Fire Departments with fire suppression efforts. By 7:45 p.m., fire crews contained the 4.3-acre fire.
Town of Delhi, Delaware County
Wildland Fire: On April 10 at 3:38 p.m., Delaware County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a fire on Elk Creek Road. The 0.1-acre fire was caused by debris burning. A Ranger issued a ticket to the landowner for violating the burn ban.
DEC’s statewide residential brush burning prohibition began on March 16 and continues through May 14.
Village of Naples, Ontario County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 10 at 6:34 p.m., Ontario County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker who fell down a gully in High Tor Wildlife Management Area. Ranger Miller worked with Ontario and Yates County Rope Rescue Teams to raise the 30-year-old from Rochester 50 feet out of the gully. The hiker was checked out by roadside Emergency Medical Technicians. Resources were clear at 9:39 p.m.
Raquette Lake, Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On April 12 at 8 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a lost hiker off trail behind the Burketown neighborhood. Forest Rangers Cleinman, Miller, and Scott responded. At 9:15 p.m., Ranger Miller made voice contact with the 55-year-old and located them deep in a swamp, getting cold in wet jeans. Ranger Miller walked the subject out of the woods. Resources were clear at 10 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 13 at 12:15 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to a call to assist three hikers off trail at Mount Haystack. The hikers said they were lost and unprepared for the weather. Rangers called and using mapping software, led them back onto the trail and then met them to provide food and water.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Water Rescue Attempt: On April 18 at approximately 12:05 p.m., Forest Ranger Peterson responded to reports of a 15-year-old who went underwater near Fawn’s Leap in Kaaterskill Creek. Ranger Peterson responded in coordination with Town of Hunter Police Department, Town of Hunter Ambulance, Haines Falls, Tannersville and Palenville Fire Departments, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, and Greene Paramedics.
Tragically, the teenager from Brooklyn was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the incident with assistance from DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI).
Town of Webb, Herkimer County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 18 at 3:37 p.m., Herkimer County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker who fainted at the top of the Bald Mountain fire tower. Forest Ranger Lieutenant Bills, and Rangers Lee, Piersma, and Waligory responded. Witnesses reported seeing the 36-year-old from Gouverneur drinking with another hiker. When Rangers arrived, the other hiker dumped out a bag in an apparent effort to hide something.
With the possibility of drug use, Rangers administered Narcan to the unconscious hiker. The patient remained unconscious. Rangers worked with the Eagle Bay and Old Forge Fire Departments and the town of Webb Police on multiple rope systems along the trail to get the hiker to an Old Forge Ambulance. The following day, the subject was awake and in stable condition.
Village of Tupper Lake, Franklin County
Water Rescue: On April 18 at 3:42 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to a report of a subject stranded on Watch Island. The subject had a canoe but was concerned about capsizing in the cold water again. The subject and their dog already capsized once. Rangers used a motorboat to rescue the subject and the dog. Resources were clear at 6:52 p.m.
Town of Inlet, Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 18 at 5:35 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about two hikers lost off trail in Moose River Plains Wild Forest. Forest Rangers arrived at 6:00 p.m. and located the 16- and 17-year-olds in good health. Rangers escorted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 8:15 p.m.
Town of North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 18 at 7:01 p.m., Essex County received a text reporting a stranded hiker on the Lillian Brook trail in the Dix Range. Forest Ranger Odell located the subjects’ vehicles at the Elk Lake Road gate. At 2 p.m., loved ones called to report the 61-year-old and 28-year-old got a little lost on their planned hike of Macomb, South Dix, Grace, and Hough mountains.
When Ranger Foutch arrived, Rangers found the subjects walking out. According to the hikers, it was an accidental 911 activation, but they had underestimated the snowy conditions and the time required for their hike. The pair was unprepared for the darkness; they didn’t have any headlamps. Rangers escorted the pair to their vehicles. Resources were clear at 10:00 p.m.
Town of Newcomb, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at 5:56 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call regarding two overdue hikers. The 23- and 24-year-olds from Cazenovia planned to hike the Santanoni Range. A friend found the pair’s vehicle in the parking area. At 8:42 a.m., Forest Rangers located the hikers. They were cold and wet. Rangers rewarmed the subjects and assisted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 9:27 a.m.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at1:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers worried about frostbite after getting their feet wet while crossing a creek on Mount Marcy. At 4:22 p.m., Forest Rangers Odell and Rooney reached the two 17-year-olds near the Phelps junction.
Rangers assessed the teenagers from Connecticut and determined they had muscle soreness, but no frostbite, and could continue walking on their own. Rangers escorted the pair out of the woods. Resources were clear at 6:41 p.m.
Read more about recent NYS Forest Ranger missions in New York State.
Photo of fire crews at Unadilla Fire provided by DEC.
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