Owl Light
Where Inspiration & Inquiry Converge
  • Home
  • Literary Journal
  • Owl Light Sponsorship
  • Digital Owl
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Home
  • Literary Journal
  • Owl Light Sponsorship
  • Digital Owl
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Home
  • /
  • Environmental
  • /
  • Finger Lakes
  • /
  • Nature
  • /
  • NYS
  • /
  • Outdoor Sports

DEC Forest Ranger Highlights

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. 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 from across New York State.  

In 2020, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 492 search and rescue missions, extinguished 192 wildfires that burned a total of more than 1,122 acres, participated in eight prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 203 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in 3,131 tickets or arrests. 

“During New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are enjoying the outdoors than ever before and our Forest Rangers are on the front lines to help people get outside responsibly and get home safely,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Rangers’ knowledge of first aid, land navigation, and technical rescue techniques are critical to the success of their missions, which for more than a century have taken them from remote wilderness areas with rugged mountain peaks, to white water rivers, and throughout our vast forests statewide.” 

Town of Italy
Yates County
Wilderness Rescue:
  On Mar. 20 at 4:20 p.m., Forest Ranger Dormer was dispatched to a rescue in the High Tor Wildlife Management Area. A 20-year-old individual from Geneseo was hiking with friends and fell into the Parrish Gully. Ranger Dormer responded, along with DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officer Levanway and DEC Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) Lt. Didion. Once on scene, the Naples Fire Department and the Ontario County Ropes Rescue Team quickly located the subject and hoisted him out to a waiting UTV. The subject was brought to a roadside ambulance but refused transport to a local hospital, and instead sought additional treatment on his own.  

Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Recovery:  On Mar. 14 at 1:30 p.m., DEC’s Central Dispatch received a request for Forest Ranger assistance from Greene County 911 for a report of an unresponsive hiker on the Becker Hollow trail near the summit of Hunter Mountain. Forest Rangers from Regions 3 and 4 responded to assist. Two Rangers hiked to the location of the 62-year-old man, who was deceased. Additional Rangers on the scene used snowmobiles to access the summit of the mountain using the state truck trail from the Spruceton trailhead. The Rangers then hiked one half mile in to bring rescue gear and equipment to the rescuers. Due to steep and icy trail conditions, Rangers utilized rope systems and a stretcher (sked) on the technical descent down the Becker Hollow trail. Rescuers were back at the Becker Hollow trailhead at 11 p.m., and the subject was turned over to the Greene County coroner. Rangers were clear of the scene at 11:30 p.m. Additional agencies involved include DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement and New York State Police.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Mar. 13 at 6:41 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 27-year-old subject from Rochester suffering from a sore knee while hiking to Mount Marcy in the High Peaks Wilderness. The hiker did not have a head lamp or flashlight and reported that his four friends hiked out ahead of him. Just before 10 p.m., At Marcy Dam, Forest Ranger Sabo made contact with the hiker and two friends who had turned back to help him. Ranger Sabo and the hikers arrived back at the Loj parking lot at 11:16 p.m., and reunited the hikers with their group. 

Town of Hillsdale
Columbia County
Wildland Fire:  On Mar. 12 at 10:30 p.m., DEC’s Central Dispatch received a request from Columbia County 911 for Forest Ranger support for a wildfire in the town of Hillsdale. Forest Ranger Gullen responded. The brush fire was approximately eight acres and fire crews were able to contain it by constructing a fire line with water support. Due to heavy winds, hot spots flared up on the hilltop, extending mop up operations. On Mar. 13 at 12:30 a.m., the fire was declared out and firefighters were clear of the scene. 

Region 3 Forest Rangers also responded to three small wildfires recently in Sullivan, Westchester, and Putnam counties. The largest was about five acres in size.

In an effort to reduce the number of spring brush fires, New York State’s residential brush burning ban is in effect starting today, Mar. 16, through May 14. For more information, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/58519.html 

Town of Lake George
Warren County
Ice Rescue: On Feb. 25 at 4 p.m., Forest Ranger Donegan was notified of a snowmobile accident on Lake George with the snowmobiler still in the water. Ranger Donegan responded to the scene adjacent to a local marina while Forest Rangers Kabrehl, Perryman, and Lt. Kallen responded to a launch site with Airboat 54. Ranger Donegan donned a cold-water rescue suit, went into the water to look for the man, but could not immediately find him. A diver with the North Queensbury Fire Department then located the 35-year-old man from the Bronx, and together with Ranger Donegan and members of the Bay Ridge and Lake George fire departments, removed him from the water. Ranger Donegan and a Sheriff’s Deputy immediately began life-saving measures. The individual was turned over to the local EMS and transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Rangers stayed on scene with the airboat to assist the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation. 

Town of Shandaken
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: 
On Feb. 27 at 12:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Slade heard a 911 report of an injured hiker on the Menla Resort property. According to the report, a hiker was attempting a two-mile loop on the resort’s blue trail, which is steep and had not been broken in by other hikers. Approximately one mile into the loop, the hiker fell 20 feet down an embankment and dislocated her left shoulder. A member of her party hiked down to the resort and placed the call for help. Ranger Slade responded, and due to the heavy snowpack, requested additional Rangers to assist. At 2:15 p.m., rescuers arrived at the hiker’s location. The 52-year-old woman from New York City was experiencing pain from her injured, left shoulder and was mildly hypothermic. Once warmed up, rescuers provided first aid for the subject’s injury by placing her left arm into a sling and securing it to her torso. The hiker was assisted back up to the trail and began the slow walk out on her own power while rescuers assisted breaking in the trail ahead. The hiker made it off the trail at 5:15 p.m., was treated by Shandaken Paramedics, and transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment. 

Hamilton County
Multiagency Snowmobile Training:
 Forest Rangers from Region 5, Zone D hosted a multi-day training with members of the106th Rescue Wing Unit of the New York Air National Guard stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach. During the exercise, Rangers demonstrated snowmobile operations and trained with the visiting Pararescue specialists in basic snowmobile maintenance and trail and towing procedures, as well as back country/deep snow operations.

Town of Pharsalia
Chenango County
Wilderness Rescue: 
On Feb. 20 at 9:15 p.m., Forest Ranger Oldroyd was contacted by Chenango County 911 about a truck that went off the Civilian Conservation Corps truck trail in the Pharsalia Woods State Forest. The truck trail is part of a snowmobile trail system in the forest. The vehicle’s occupants attempted to rescue themselves by using a winch cable to get the truck back on the road but in doing so created an unsafe trail condition. Once the subjects realized this, they requested assistance. Forest Rangers Oldroyd and Oldroyd responded to their location with snowmobiles and brought the occupants out of the woods. Rangers treated the occupants from Marathon and Cincinnatus, NY, for mild hypothermia, placing them in a Sheriff’s vehicle. Once warmed up, the subjects were released and all units were cleared of the scene by 12:05 a.m. Truck off trail in Pharsalia Woods State Forest (photo below) New York State DEC staff continue to serve in leadership roles at COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites across the state. For information about efforts to vaccinate New Yorkers and to check eligibility for vaccinations, go to: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/   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.

Posted on March 19, 2021 by owllightnews.com. This entry was posted in Environmental, Finger Lakes, Nature, NYS, Outdoor Sports and tagged #NYSDEC, #outdoorsafety. Bookmark the permalink.
DEC ANNOUNCES RESIDENTIAL BRUSH BURNING PROHIBITED IN NEW YORK STATE MARCH 16 THROUGH MAY 14
On World Water Day, Faith Leaders Appeal to Cuomo, Town of Torrey re: Greenidge

    Recent Posts

    • Visual Studies Workshop Announces Project Space Residency Open Application Period
    • West End Gallery showcasing Brian S. Keeler, Treacy Ziegler
    • Hard
    • Eye-Magine – Future Youth Art Exhibit
    • “These Wilds” Announcement

    Recent Comments

    • Darlene on Let’s Talk About Beep!
    • Darlene Bentley on Hello! from a new Guest Editor, and Finding Joy in Hardship.
    • owllightnews.com on The Farm
    • Douglas Morgan on The Farm
    • owllightnews.com on Energizing and Engaging Fun at GEVA

    Archives

    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017

    Categories

    • #2021
    • Agriculture
    • Animals
    • Antiques
    • Art
    • Astronomy
    • automobiles
    • Beekeeping
    • Birthday
    • Boating
    • books
    • Botany
    • Broome County
    • Buffalo
    • Canadice
    • Canandaigua
    • Cartoon
    • Children
    • Civics
    • Collecting
    • Comic Strip
    • Community Information
    • concert
    • Covid-19
    • Creative non-fiction
    • Dansville
    • Death
    • Democracy
    • Dogs
    • Editorial
    • Education
    • Environmental
    • Essay
    • Family Fun
    • Fantasy
    • Fiction
    • film
    • Finger Lakes
    • Food and Beverage
    • gallery
    • Gardening
    • Gender Rights
    • Great Lakes
    • Health
    • History
    • Holiday
    • Honeoye
    • Human Interest
    • Human Rights
    • In Memoriam
    • Innovation
    • Interview
    • Leisurely Pursuits
    • Literary Arts
    • Little Lakes
    • Live Theatre
    • Livingston County
    • media
    • Monroe County
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Naples, NY
    • Nature
    • Night Sky
    • No. 1
    • NYS
    • Obituary
    • online
    • Ontario County
    • Opinion
    • Outdoor Sports
    • OWL Light
    • Owl Light News
    • Owl Light Newsstand locations
    • Owl Light Sponsor
    • Owl Sponsor
    • OwlLight Blogpost
    • OwlLightNewsArchive
    • Performing Arts
    • Photography
    • Poetry
    • Politics
    • Press Release
    • Recipe
    • Reviews
    • Richmond, NY
    • Rochester
    • Satire
    • Science
    • Scifi
    • Seniors
    • Shop Local
    • Social Justice
    • sports
    • STEM
    • Steuben County
    • Sustainability
    • Theatre
    • Tioga County
    • Tompkins County
    • Travel
    • Uncategorized
    • Veterans
    • Weather
    • Women's Rights
    • Wood working
    • writing
    • Wyoming County
    • Yates County
    • Young Adult
    • youth
    • Zoom

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
Powered by