Rangers Respond: Missing Child, Brush Fires, Overnight High Peaks Rescue, Ill, Injured and Lost Hikers

Hot dry weather and lack of rain remains a wildfire concern around state. Since May 4th, New York State Forest Rangers fought two brush fires. In Saratoga County a wildfire began with ashes dumped outside, and a two-acre fire of unknown origin in Warrensburg damaged a structure.

Rangers also provided overnight assistance of two lost hikers in the remote Cold Brook Pass in the Adirondack High Peaks, and aided in locating another near Indian Pass Brook. On May 8th they participated in the search for a missing eight-year-old in Allegany County. Those reports and more are below, provided by DEC:

Town of Corinth, Saratoga County

Brush Fire: On May 4 at 4:30 p.m., three Forest Rangers responded to assist fire departments with a fire on private property on Wilton Mountain Road. The 0.25-acre fire was caused by someone dumping stove ashes outside. Fire crews quickly contained the fire.

Town of Independence, Allegany County

Missing Child: On May 8 at 7:09 p.m. Forest Rangers Christopher, Sprague, and Thaine responded to a call for a missing 3-year-old last seen on County Route 22 an hour earlier. New York State Police (NYSP) and the Allegany County Drone Team were on scene.

The child’s mother said the child was playing outside with the family dog and then she couldn’t see them anymore. Family immediately began searching the area. Ranger Christopher worked with NYSP to search nearby roads and fire departments to check ponds and structures on adjacent properties.

At 9 p.m., a neighbor driving on Hawks Road found the child and dog in a field on the edge of the road, 1.4 miles away from the house. The Independence Emergency Squad evaluated the child and returned them to their family.

Town of Keene, Essex County

Wilderness Rescue: On May 9 at 9:30 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to a dropped 911 call near the Garden parking lot and trailhead. Essex County Dispatch retrieved cell phone coordinates that placed a 22- and 26-year-old several hundred feet off trail between the Brothers and Phelps trails.

At 10:45 p.m., Dispatchers made contact with a friend of the hikers who received a text message with updated coordinates that placed the hikers in Cold Brook Pass in Newcomb. At 1:30 a.m., Lake Colden Caretaker Raudonis reached the pair and assisted them to the outpost to get warm and dry.

After spending the night, Caretaker Raudonis assisted the hiking party to the Marcy Dam Outpost. Ranger Jeffery met them and assisted them to the South Meadows trailhead. Resources were clear at 1 p.m.

Town of Windham, Greene County

Wilderness Rescue: On May 10 at 3:51 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford and Dawson responded to a report of an 11-year-old acting lethargic on the Escarpment trail.

At 5:14 p.m., Rangers, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the Windham Fire Department reached the child from Valatie, who was suffering from dehydration. Rescuers carried the child half a mile to the trailhead. Windham Ambulance evaluated the child and returned them to their hiking party.

Hamlet of Livingston Manor, Sullivan County

Wilderness Rescue: On May 12 at 12 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who fell and suffered a face laceration on the Quick Lake trail in the Willowemoc Wild Forest. Forest Ranger Franke responded with Beaverkill Valley and Livingston Manor Fire Departments.

A member of the hiking party provided coordinates to Ranger Franke. At 12:45 p.m., rescuers reached and evaluated the subject. Rescuers transported the 72-year-old from Woodstock to a Livingston Manor Ambulance on Beaverkill Road. Resources were clear at 2:45 p.m.

Town of Warrensburg, Warren County

Wildland Fire: On May 12 at 4 p.m., Warren County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a brush fire that damaged a structure. Rangers assisted Chester, Horicon, Minerva, Portersville, and Riverside Fire Departments to contain the fire by 8:35 p.m. The cause of the 2-acre fire remains under investigation.

Town of North Elba, Essex County

Wilderness Search: On May 13 at 1:47 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Ezumah about a lost hiker near Street and Nye Mountain trail. Rangers Ezumah and Rooney met at the trailhead and made verbal contact with the subject one mile down the trail.

They found the 47-year-old from Amherst next to Indian Pass Brook. Rangers provided warming layers and escorted the subject back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 4:45 p.m.

City of Kingston, Ulster County

Wilderness Rescue: On May 16 at 1:10 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to a call for two individuals lost in Bluestone Wild Forest. Ranger Horn made cell phone contact with the hikers, who didn’t have any navigation tools.

Ranger Horn instructed them to stay where they were until later locating the two subjects, providing water, and escorting them to the Morey Hill Road access. Resources were clear at 2:50 p.m.

Read more about recent NYS Forest Ranger missions in New York State.

Photo of Warrensburg wildfire provided by DEC.