New York’s Forest Rangers handled a string of intense rescues and emergencies during the week of July 1–6, including helicopter evacuations, wildfire containment, and the successful recovery of a missing six-year-old.
The week began with a July 1 rescue in Ulster County, where a 13-year-old from Brooklyn lost consciousness after spending 10 minutes in the frigid water at Peekamoose Blue Hole. Forest Ranger Jefferey insulated the teen, who was shivering and had a weak pulse, with sleeping bags and a tarp before Ranger Rusher helped walk the patient out to a waiting ambulance.
Later that day in Essex County, a 34-year-old hiker from Rochester was rescued from Mount Jo after sustaining a leg injury. Rangers used backpack carriers to bring the patient down for ambulance transport.
On July 2, Rangers in the Town of Keene airlifted a 63-year-old hiker from Maryland with a shoulder dislocation on Mount Colden. “Caretaker Raudonis massaged the subject’s shoulder so Ranger H. Praczkajlo could reduce the shoulder dislocation,” before escorting him by boat and helicopter to medical care.
In a separate emergency on July 4, Rangers responded to a seizure patient at the summit of Hunter Mountain. They helped the hiker descend and transferred the individual to Kingston Hospital.
On July 5, a dramatic search unfolded in Pomfret, Chautauqua County, where a six-year-old wandered into woods behind the Fredonia BOCES campus. After nearly two hours, a search crew found the child safe in a creek bed.
The same day saw multiple rescues in the Adirondacks. In North Elba, Rangers responded to an SOS beacon on Mount Marshall and guided a panicked hiker from Quebec back to safety. Minutes later in Wilmington, they stabilized a leg injury on Whiteface Mountain and transported the patient by ATV. Just five minutes after that call, Rangers began searching for two lost hikers on the same mountain who had only 7% phone battery and no flashlight. The pair later emerged safely on their own.
That evening, two Rangers located an unprepared and distressed hiker on the Mt. Van Hoevenberg trail and escorted them out near midnight.
Rescue operations continued on July 6. In Newcomb, Rangers assisted a cyclist with a head injury at Great Camp Santanoni. That afternoon in Harrietstown, firefighters and Rangers suppressed a wildfire sparked by a campfire on Middle Saranac Islands. The fire was contained to a tenth of an acre.
Also on July 6, Rangers responded to a leg injury on Cranberry Lake. The 36-year-old hiker from Syracuse was stabilized and transported by boat back to their vehicle.
The DEC also announced the promotion of Rangers Baldwin, Snye, and Gullen to Lieutenant on July 3, recognizing their leadership in Region 5 and Central Office.
Forest Rangers completed 362 search and rescue missions and extinguished 122 wildfires last year. “Whether conducting a search and rescue call or responding to a wildfire burning out of control, Rangers are always ready when emergencies strike,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.
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