New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 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 statewide.
TOWN OF BOMBAY, WILDLAND FIRE
On May 22 at 1:30 p.m., Franklin County requested forest ranger assistance for a wildland fire on County Route 2. Rangers and the Bombay, Dickenson, Fort Covington and Hogansburg fire departments responded.
There were nearly 20 debris piles burning more than 66 acres.
With the help of water-filled drainage ditches, by 8:55 p.m., fire crews contained the fire. DEC Operations staff used an excavator while fire crews used ATVs and portable pumps to continue breaking up and putting out hot spots.
The fire was caused by burning a large debris pile of stumps.
TOWN OF NEWCOMB, HONOR GUARD
On May 23, the Division of Forest Protection Honor Guard participated in Newcomb’s annual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony.
Rangers were joined by the Newcomb supervisor; staff and volunteers; New York State Police Honor Guard; Essex County Sheriff’s Office Rifle Detail; American Legion Post 982; Newcomb Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue and EMS; and a volunteer trumpeter from Newcomb Central School.
TOWN OF NORTH HUDSON, WILDERNESS RESCUES
On May 23 between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received two separate and unrelated reports of overdue hikers on Dix Mountain.
The hikers were last heard from at the peak at 6 and 7 p.m., respectively. They were both heading back to the Elk Lake trailhead. One hiker was moving slowly due to an injured ankle.
At 11:30 p.m., forest rangers met the uninjured hiker at the Elk Lake trailhead. Rangers reached the trailhead with the injured hiker at 4:45 am.
On May 24 at 3 p.m., three forest rangers responded to a report of a hiker experiencing muscle cramps and exhaustion on the Beckhorn trail in the Dix Mountain range.
The hiker was with four other individuals who were sheltering in place with emergency blankets. When they started feeling hypothermic, some made their way down the trail.
Rangers assisted the rest to the Elk Lake trailhead.
Resources were clear at 9:55 p.m.