Wildfires remain a concern across New York State. Checking the weather before hiking. The temperature and conditions at the top of a mountain are often very different from those at the trailhead.
It’s Mud Season, wildland stewards advise that recreationists should stick to drier lower elevation areas to avoid damaging trails and fragile higher elevation ecosystems.
The following are recent missions carried out by New York State Forest Rangers:
Village of Unadilla, Otsego County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 3:04 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a wildland fire on private land. The fire was started by downed power lines and spread to leaf litter. The Franklin, Sidney, and Unadilla Fire Departments and Rangers contained the 4.1-acre fire by 5:11 p.m.
Town of Fort Ann, Washington County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 4:45 p.m., Washington County 911 called Ray Brook Dispatch for Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire on private land. A tree fell on a powerline causing a 0.5-acre grass fire. By 6:45 p.m., firefighters declared the fire out,
Town of Northumberland, Saratoga County
Wildland Fire: On April 9 at 5:40 p.m., the Gansevoort Fire Chief requested Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire. Two Rangers assisted Schuylerville, South Glens Falls, and Victory Mills Fire Departments with fire suppression efforts. By 7:45 p.m., fire crews contained the 4.3-acre fire.
Town of Delhi, Delaware County
Wildland Fire: On April 10 at 3:38 p.m., Delaware County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a fire on Elk Creek Road. The 0.1-acre fire was caused by debris burning. A Ranger issued a ticket to the landowner for violating the burn ban.
DEC’s statewide residential brush burning prohibition began on March 16 and continues through May 14.
Village of Naples, Ontario County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 10 at 6:34 p.m., Ontario County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker who fell down a gully in High Tor Wildlife Management Area. Ranger Miller worked with Ontario and Yates County Rope Rescue Teams to raise the 30-year-old from Rochester 50 feet out of the gully. The hiker was checked out by roadside Emergency Medical Technicians. Resources were clear at 9:39 p.m.
Raquette Lake, Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On April 12 at 8 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a lost hiker off trail behind the Burketown neighborhood. Forest Rangers Cleinman, Miller, and Scott responded. At 9:15 p.m., Ranger Miller made voice contact with the 55-year-old and located them deep in a swamp, getting cold in wet jeans. Ranger Miller walked the subject out of the woods. Resources were clear at 10 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 13 at 12:15 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to a call to assist three hikers off trail at Mount Haystack. The hikers said they were lost and unprepared for the weather. Rangers called and using mapping software, led them back onto the trail and then met them to provide food and water.
Read more about recent NYS Forest Ranger missions in New York State.
Photo of fire crews at Unadilla Fire provided by DEC.
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