New York Forest Rangers Deployed to California to Assist in Wildfire Response

A team of 10 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers has been deployed to California to aid in efforts to contain wildfires currently affecting the Los Angeles region. The team departed from Albany on Tuesday morning for a mission expected to last approximately two weeks.

New York has a long-standing practice of sending trained wildland firefighters to assist in battling wildfires across the country and internationally as part of mutual aid agreements. The fires in Southern California, which began on January 7 and have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and resulted in at least 25 fatalities.

Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged the contributions of the Forest Rangers, stating, “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.”

DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar highlighted the expertise of the Rangers, emphasizing their role in national and international wildfire response efforts. "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," Mahar said.

New York has been deploying firefighting crews to assist with large wildfires in western states since 1979. On average, one or two crews are sent each year when additional support is needed. These deployments not only aid affected communities but also provide valuable experience for the firefighters, which can be applied to wildfire management within New York State.

All costs associated with the deployment, including personnel and travel expenses, are covered by the U.S. Forest Service or reimbursed under existing mutual aid agreements between states and federal agencies.

The New York crew will join teams from across the United States, as well as from Canada, Mexico, and other nations, in ongoing efforts to contain the fires and mitigate further damage.