New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. 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 and engage in policing on New York State Lands.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers.
Hamlet of Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence County
Ice Rescue: On Jan. 7 at 11:05 a.m., Forest Rangers Ellis and Ezumah responded to a subject stranded on the ice on the St. Regis River. The subject’s snowmobile went through the ice in an area alongside the river. Ranger Ellis assisted the New York State Police Dive Team to escort the subject off the ice. A private tow company retrieved the snowmobile. Resources were clear at 11:53 a.m.
Village of Speculator, Hamilton County
Snowmobile Crash: On Jan. 11 at 12:43 p.m., Forest Rangers Nally and Thompson responded to a call for a snowmobile accident in the Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement. Two riders from New Jersey with limited snowmobile experience had crashed in the woods.
One rider suffered leg and shoulder injuries; the other sustained cuts and bruises. Rangers assisted Lake Placid EMS and Lake Placid Fire Department by keeping the patients warm with a hypo-wrap while waiting to be evacuated. At 3:30 p.m., the subjects were taken to the hospital for further care.
Town of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County
Law Enforcement: On Jan. 11, while patrolling Boutwell Hill State Forest, Forest Rangers checked more than 150 snowmobiles. Rangers issued multiple tickets for illegal mufflers and registration violations. Local snowmobile clubs recently closed down sections of trail on private property due to landowner complaints of snowmobilers riding off designated trails and riding with loud mufflers.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 11 at 3:53 p.m., 10 Forest Rangers responded to a call for a subject who had been struck in the head by falling ice at the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls. Within 20 minutes, Rangers were alerted to a second victim injured by the same chunk of ice.
At 4:17 p.m., Rangers reached both subjects. Rangers secured the first subject, a 29-year-old from Brooklyn, in a litter and wheeled her back to Laurel House Road where they were met by a Hunter ambulance. Rangers received assistance from Greene County Paramedics, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Tannersville Rescue, and Twin Cloves Rescue. The second subject was able to walk out on their own. Resources were clear at 7:30 p.m.
DEC reminds visitors to Kaaterskill Falls to use micro spikes for better traction in winter and to be aware of overhead ice dangers. Additional winter hiking safety tips can be found on DEC’s website.
Read about past Forest Ranger missions here.
Photo of Ice injury extraction at Kaaterskill Falls provided by DEC.
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