Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that a team of 10 New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers has been deployed to Southern California to assist in combating devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The team departed from Albany on the morning of January 16 for a two-week assignment.
“When other states and nations ask for New York’s help, we are always prepared to send assistance,” Hochul said. “New York’s expert wildland firefighting Forest Rangers were eager to answer the call and will do what they can to help in response to the extraordinary devastation in and around Los Angeles. I thank them for their bravery and look forward to their safe return.”
The wildfires, which began on January 7 and have been exacerbated by Santa Ana winds, have claimed an estimated 25 lives, burned more than 40,000 acres, and destroyed over 12,000 structures. New York’s rangers will join firefighters from across the United States, Mexico, Canada, and other nations in an effort to contain the fires and minimize further damage.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar praised the Forest Rangers’ dedication, stating, “DEC’s Forest Rangers are highly trained wildland firefighters who are prepared to use their expertise to assist communities in need whenever they get the call. I appreciate the Rangers stepping up to run toward danger and bolster the efforts of firefighters from across the U.S. and beyond.”
New York has been a regular contributor to wildfire response efforts nationwide since first sending a firefighting crew to assist western states in 1979. These deployments not only provide aid to affected areas but also allow rangers to gain valuable experience to address similar incidents within New York State.
The costs of the mission, including personnel and travel expenses, will be covered by the U.S. Forest Service or reimbursed to New York under a mutual aid agreement between state and federal agencies.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].