The Peru Gazette

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 the first half of 2025, Rangers conducted 139 search and rescue missions, extinguished 82 wildfires covering nearly 705 acres, and participated in 56 prescribed fires that rejuvenated 1,514 acres of land. In 2024, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 122 wildfires covering nearly 6,500 acres, participated in 60 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,155 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests.

Town of Croghan
Lewis County
Wildland Fire: On Oct. 5, four Forest Rangers, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, Lewis County Emergency Management and the Castorland, Croghan, and New Breman Fire Departments responded to a wildland fire burning leaf litter and measuring almost 23 acres. Fire departments knocked down most of the active flames around the perimeter, but as of 8 p.m., the fire was only 20 percent contained. Two Rangers continued patrolling the fire overnight. Six Rangers responded the following day and worked with the Croghan Fire Department to bring water to the scene. On Oct. 6 the fire was declared 100 percent controlled. Rangers are still patrolling and putting out hot spots.

Croghan fire

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 10 at 4:11 p.m., a hiker called Ray Brook Dispatch from Thomas Mountain reporting their mother could not continue the hike due to a preexisting knee condition. Ranger Geyer made contact with the hiking party as they were coming down from the summit to the north trailhead. Rangers searched the trail with negative results. Ranger Geyer called them back and instructed them to call 911 so they could get accurate coordinates. Coordinates placed them on the Ridge trail between Cat and Thomas Mountains. Eleven Rangers carried a wheeled litter, medical equipment, and ropes to their location. After completing a medical assessment, Rangers wrapped the 73-year-old from Bath in a hypowrap for warmth and packaged the hiker into the litter. Rangers evacuated the patient using a series of ropes to reach an ATV. They reached the trailhead at 8:30 p.m.

Thomas Mountain rescue

Town of Clifton
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 11 at 3:34 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch was contacted by St. Lawrence County 911 about two hikers unable to make it back to the trailhead from Cranberry Lake Wild Forest. The 29- and 57-year-olds were suffering from exhaustion after hiking the Peavine Swamp trail. Forest Rangers Emerson and Shea found the hikers, provided water and electrolytes, and assisted them back to the trailhead.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 11 at 5:45 p.m., the Marcy Dam caretaker contacted Ray Brook Dispatch about a hiker experiencing symptoms of dehydration. At 7:35 p.m., Rangers Duchene and R. Praczkajlo reached the 52-year-old from Yonkers. At 8:05 p.m., they made it to the trailhead where Lake Placid EMS then transported the patient to the hospital.

Town of Keene Valley
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 12 at 12:25 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting their parent lost consciousness and then came to on the Big Slide trail. Forest Ranger R. Praczkajlo called the hiker and found out the 56-year-old from New Jersey was diabetic. Ranger Praczkajlo met the pair on the trail and assisted them back to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical care.

Town of Arietta
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 12 at 2:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Caswell and Hamm, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, and Piseco Fire Department responded to Good Luck Cliff for a hiker with a possible broken ankle. Rangers reached the 35-year-old from Staten Island, splinted the injured ankle, and assisted the hiker back to the trailhead. Speculator EMS transported the patient to the hospital.

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.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.