Forest Rangers responded to seven wildfires that burned 11.5 acres across New York from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, including a fire in Allegany County.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation reported the fires in its Nov. 4 ranger roundup, which also detailed an emergency evacuation and an overnight search for a missing hunter in Fulton County.
The fires occurred in Belfast, Deer Park, Mamakating, McDonough, Nelson, North Collins and Russia, spanning Allegany, Chenango, Erie, Herkimer, Madison, Orange and Sullivan counties.
Three were caused by debris burning, according to DEC. The agency said conditions had been especially dry over the previous week or two and urged people to use extreme care with campfires during dry, windy weather.
DEC maintains a fire danger map and campfire safety guidance.
At 1 p.m. Oct. 30, Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for ranger assistance for a person having a stroke on the Willie Wildlife Marsh Trail in Peck Hill State Forest in the city of Johnstown.
Members of the Caroga Lake and Meco fire departments were already performing CPR when Ranger O'Connell arrived, DEC said. The ranger and firefighters carried the 72-year-old Alabama resident to an ambulance, and a LifeFlight helicopter flew the person to a hospital.
The following evening, at 8:55 p.m., Fulton County requested help finding a missing 90-year-old hunter in the town of Bleecker after the hunter's ATV was located in Shaker Mountain Wild Forest.
Rangers searched overnight with State Police and Fulton County sheriff's deputies. A drone equipped with a heat-sensing camera did not locate the hunter, DEC said.
At 10:15 a.m. the next morning, the hunter walked to a private residence in good health and declined medical treatment.
During the first nine months of 2026, Forest Rangers conducted 277 search-and-rescue missions, responded to 93 wildfires that burned more than 224 acres, and worked on 54 prescribed fires covering 1,355 acres, DEC reported.
- Massive fire over 13 acres fought off by Rangers close to Lake George
- Wildfire: Mosquito Fire has burned over 46,000 acres forcing thousands of evacuations
- Wildfires still spreading as Fairview Fire burns thousands of acres in every direction
- California wildfires: McKinney Fire kills two, comes close to killing others, and is the biggest fire for the state in 2022
In 2025, rangers conducted 362 search-and-rescue missions, responded to 202 wildfires that burned 840 acres, and worked on 68 prescribed fires covering 1,649 acres. Their cases resulted in more than 1,100 tickets and arrests, and 41 rangers deployed on wildfire assignments in 10 states.
DEC encourages hikers to review its Hike Smart NY guidance and check backcountry information for the Adirondacks or Catskills before heading out.
Call 833-NYS-RANGERS to report a search-and-rescue need, wildfire or illegal activity on state lands and easements, or call 911 for an urgent emergency.
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