The Peru Gazette

Includes multiple Adirondack rescues

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.

Iamlet of Pine Plains

Dutchess County
Wildland Fire: On June 5 at 1:30 p.m., Forest Rangers Grillo and Pries responded to a 911 radio call about a brush fire on Shultz Hill Road. When Rangers arrived, they observed the fire spreading in a field of grasses and scrubs. Rangers worked with Amenia, Milan, Millerton, and Pine Plains Fire Departments on the suppression efforts. By 3:45 p.m., firefighters contained the 0.5-acre fire.

Pine Plains fire

Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 8 at 9:46 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County about a 911 text for an ill hiker on the Lillian Brook trail in the Dix Mountain Wilderness. At approximately 1:30 a.m., Rangers and a Paramedic from Schroon Lake EMS reached the 52-year-old from Potsdam. Rangers determined the hiker could not continue on their own. The Paramedic provided IV fluids and then Rangers carried the subject to the Elk Lake trailhead where they were met by a Schroon Lake Ambulance. Resources were clear at 5:40 a.m.

City of Albany
Albany County
Prescribed Fire: On June 9, A Forest Ranger joined staff from the DEC’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Lands and Forests, and Albany Pine Bush to conduct a controlled burn of 29 acres at the Albany Pine Bush.

Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. These burns are regulated by law and regulation and require technical expertise to safely conduct. Controlled burns help prevent the spread of invasive species, and in some areas, prescribed fire is used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other fuel to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.

Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn

Burn Boss Briggs at Albany Pine Bush prescribed burn

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 9 at 4:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a member of the Student Conservation Association about one of their members having a seizure while doing trail work in Avalanche Pass. Forest Ranger Odell spoke to the trail crew’s supervisor who said the 23-year-old from Pennsylvania had epilepsy that could be affected by exertion in the hot weather. New York State Police Pilot Sergeant Beck flew Rangers Bowler and Martin to the subject. They loaded the subject into the helicopter, and Sergeant Beck flew them to Adirondack Medical Center. Resources were clear at 6:11 p.m. 

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 10 at 10 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a notification from Garmin of an SOS activation for a medical emergency at the Wolf Jaw lean to. At 11:45 p.m., Rangers reached the 21-year-old hiker who was dehydrated. Rangers provided food and hydration which improved their condition. Rangers assisted the subject out of the woods. Resources were clear at 2:50 a.m.

Rangers remind hikers to adhere to the 10 Hiking Essentials and bring at least two liters of water per person and to choose foods that are high in protein and calories.

Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On June 11 at 5:17 p.m., a guest at Journey’s Edge Lodge was reported one hour overdue from kayaking. Forest Ranger Nahor searched the south end of the lake and at 5:40 p.m., located the 32-year-old from New York City in good condition. The kayaker got lost earlier in the day and didn’t know which direction they were traveling. Ranger Nahor assisted them back to the lodge.

Village of Fishkill and Hamlet of Pottersville
Dutchess and Warren Counties
Public Outreach: On June 13, Forest Rangers joined Smokey Bear at “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day.” The event brought people together of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds for a day of fun and healthy outdoor recreation.

Get Outdoors & Get Together Day in Fishkill

Town of Italy
Yates County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 13 at 11:45 a.m. Forest Ranger Dormer responded to a call for a hiker with an injured shoulder in Conklin Gully on High Tor Wildlife Management Area. Ranger Dormer joined members of the Ontario and Yates County Rope Rescue Teams and the Naples Fire Department. Rescuers determined the 26-year-old from Rochester had a dislocated right shoulder and assisted them on the half-mile walkout. A Naples Ambulance met them roadside and transported the patient to Thompson Hospital.

Village of Dresden
Washington County
Fire: On June 13 at 4:25 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with a fire of heavy logging slash on private land. Rangers joined Dresden, Huletts Landing, and Putnam Fire Departments to get the 100-foot-by-100-foot fire under control. The following afternoon, Rangers declared the fire out.

Dresden fire

Dresden fire

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 13 at 4:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker having difficulty breathing on Basin Mountain. Forest Ranger Ezumah spoke to the reporting party and learned the patient has a history of cardiac events and currently had an irregular pulse. New York State Police Pilot Engel flew Rangers Ezumah and Shea to the subject’s coordinates. Ranger Ezumah was inserted to the location, but the subject was no longer there. The 45-year-old’s hiking partner said they were moving towards Johns Brook Outpost. At the same time, Ranger Odell was hiking into Johns Brook and at 6:23 p.m., located the subject. Ranger Odell assisted the hiker to the Garden Parking lot where they were met by a family member. Resources were clear at 7:01 p.m.

Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Search: On June 13 at 5:12 p.m., Ulster County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a lost hiker on Lone Mountain. The 46-year-old from Monroe was hiking four trailless peaks in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area when they got lost. With minimal battery power, the hiker used a cell phone to call 911. Rangers Horn and Martin conducted linear searches of high probability areas. At 7 p.m., Rangers located the subject along the east branch of the Neversink River. Rangers escorted the subject back to their vehicle.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 13 at 5:23 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a dehydrated hiker along the Feldspar Brook trail on Gray Peak. Forest Ranger Odell spoke to the reporting party who indicated the 32-year-old from Connecticut was vomiting any time they tried to move. New York State Police Pilot Engel picked up Rangers Nahor and Quinn at the Lake Colden Outpost and dropped them off at Lake Tear of the Clouds. Rangers located the subject and assisted them into the helicopter. Pilot Engel flew the subject to Marcy Field where they were met by Keene EMS. Resources were clear at 6:47 p.m.

Gray Peak rescue

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On June 13 at 5:49 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a pair of hikers lost near Putnam Brook. Forest Rangers Brand and Russell located the two hikers and escorted them out of the woods. One of the hikers complained of back pain but did not require medical attention. Resources were clear at 8:22 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s “Hike Smart NY,” “Adirondack Backcountry,” 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.