DEC announces nine new state forest rangers

ALBANY — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar on Dec. 2 welcomed nine new graduates from the 24th Basic School for New York State Forest Rangers, including two from Onondaga County and one from Oneida County. As part of DEC’s Division of Forest Protection, New York forest rangers protect natural resources and public safety and stand ready to support other states across the country in the face of emergencies like wildfires and flooding. The ceremony, held in Albany on Dec. 2, celebrated graduates from across New York state who followed extensive law enforcement and natural-resources training in the classroom and in the field. The nine graduates of the DEC’s 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers were: • Robert Christopher — Camillus, Onondaga County • Jacob Cleinman — Glenville, Schenectady County • Ryan Commerford — Clifton Park, Saratoga County • Zachary Dormer — Naples, Ontario County • Osita Ezumah — Saranac Lake, Franklin County • Sonja Hale — Pompey, Onondaga County • Nathan Jeffery — Lake Placid, Essex County • Nicole Kocher — Narrowsburg, Sullivan County • Cody Welch — Waterville, Oneida County “I commend this brave new class of New York State Forest Rangers for completing this important part of their journey to carry on the proud tradition of protecting New York’s environment and the public,” Mahar said in a news release. “From snow-covered peaks to wildfires in New York and beyond, New York State Forest Rangers are some of the most elite first responders in the state, and I am proud of our newest class of Rangers for stepping up to join our ranks and wish them success as they begin their challenging and fulfilling new careers.” For the last six months, recruits endured rigorous training at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus in the hamlet of Wanakena and the Huntington Wildlife Forest in the town of Newcomb, the DEC noted. The Division of Forest Protection trained the ranger recruits in a wide range of rescue techniques, including rope rescues, and led extensive training in wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, water rescues and wildlife protection, among other skills. Nine graduates will join the state’s forest ranger force for a total of 156 rangers statewide. Upon graduation, DEC assigns recruits to patrol areas to join the ranks of forest rangers currently serving across the state. In 2023, DEC forest rangers conducted 370 search and rescue missions, put out 146 wildfires covering nearly 1,400 acres, participated in dozens of prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,000 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets or arrests.