The Peru Gazette

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. 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 from across New York State.

Town of Dannemora
Clinton County
Law Enforcement Action: On April 16 at 12 p.m., Forest Ranger Booth overheard New York State Police emergency radio traffic advising of a domestic situation involving a loaded firearm. Ranger Booth responded to the location, and once on scene, quickly sized up the situation. From a position of cover, the Ranger encouraged the male subject, who had access to a loaded firearm, to calmy come outside. After complying with Ranger Booth’s request, the unarmed subject was taken into custody and turned over to the State Police.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 17 at 3:15 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Center received a call regarding a hiker with a possible broken ankle on Blake Mountain in the High Peaks Wilderness Area. After consulting with Forest Ranger Captain Kostoss and based on the injury, location, and amount of daylight left, Forest Rangers Praczkajlo and Lewis requested New York State Police Aviation assistance to conduct a helicopter hoist operation. With Ranger Balerno as Crew Chief, Rangers O’Connor and Lewis were inserted near the summit of the mountain. From there, the Rangers quickly located the 61-year-old subject from Johnstown. The woman was safely hoisted out and flown to a local hospital for medical treatment. Rangers then escorted the remaining members of the hiking party out of the wilderness. All Rangers and hikers were clear of the incident at 8:30 p.m.

Hoist Rescue on Blake Mountain

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 17 at 7:20 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two lost hikers in the Tongue Mountain Range. The pair was concerned about becoming lost in the woods after dark. The hikers were still on the trail, 3.5 miles from the nearest trailhead, and an additional five miles away from their vehicle. The hikers were encouraged to continue making their way out of the woods. About an hour later, the hikers called back as one of them was having a panic attack, fearful that their cell lights wouldn’t last much longer. Forest Ranger Kabrehl responded to assist the 26-year-old women from Montgomery, NY, and Oradell, NJ. By 10:14 p.m., Ranger Kabrehl and the hikers were out of the woods.

Town of Lyonsdale
Lewis County
Wilderness Search: On April 18 at 8:34 a.m., Acting Forest Ranger Lt. Hoag received a call from DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch advising of a request from Lewis County 911 for assistance with a missing 39-year-old man from Pittsburgh, PA, in the Fowlersville area, along the Moose River. The camper missed a planned meeting with a relative on April 17, and had not been heard from since April 13. Forest Ranger Snyder responded to the scene and met with Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputies, New York State Police, and family members. Forest Rangers Hanno and Evans also responded to aid in the search, along with Forest Ranger Baldwin with a drone. Further investigation determined the man had sustained an arm injury on April 14, and he evacuated to a nearby road where he was transported to a local hospital by a passing motorist. All units were clear of the scene by 12:35 p.m.