DEC Forest Rangers Report

The 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.

Columbia County dual brush fires

There were two brush fires reported in the town of Gallatin on Friday, April 29, at 3 p.m.

Forest Rangers Cowart, Gullen, Pries and Sweeney responded to the original call for a single brush fire and when the Rangers arrived they realized there were two separate fires about a mile apart. They split up to tackle both blazes.

The larger of the two fires burned nearly 14 acres and was likely started by someone burning cardboard.

The smaller of the two fires burned more than 2 acres.

By 7:15 p.m., both fires were under control and declared out the next day.

Dutchess County Rope Rescue Training

In the village of Millerton, the DEC conducted technical rope rescue training on Thursday, April 21. Forest Rangers from DEC Regions 3 and 4 held a technical rope rescue exercise at Taconic State Park in the village of Millerton.

The exercise consisted of a simulated rescue from a technical area on the Brace Mountain Trail. Rangers used a high-angle alpine lower with a deflection system to remove a subject from a narrow shelf of a waterfall. Rangers are working with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation staff to prepare for potential backcountry incidents in the area.

Contact Forest Ranger for help

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, go to www.dec.ny.gov/about/667.html.