A state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger who serves Seneca and Schuyler counties is back home in the U.S. after spending the last few weeks in Quebec working in multiple wildfires.
William Roberts and a crew of six other DEC rangers returned to New York on Sunday after spending 14 days battling the wildfires in eastern Canada that impacted air quality in the Finger Lakes for several days earlier this month.
Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “New York’s wildland firefighters have been supporting efforts to fight wildland fires across the country and beyond for more than 40 years. When there is a crisis, DEC ForesThese two missions are the first time New York State Forest Rangers have been deployed to Canada since the wildfires in Quebec in 2005. In 1979, New York sent its first firefighting crew to assist western states with large wildfires. On average, one or two crews are sent as needed to assist with wildfires nearly every year. In addition to helping contain wildfires and minimize damage, these crews gain valuable experience that can be utilized fighting wildfires and managing all-risk incidents in New York.t Rangers answer the call. Oftentimes, it’s out west, but in this case, it was for our neighbors to the north. As experts in incident command, DEC Forest Rangers often lead dozens of firefighters in the daunting task of containing a wildfire. I thank them for their dedication and sacrifice always.” “We are all too familiar with the wildfires in Canada this month, but we’re fortunate to have brave men and women ready to mobilize to where help is needed the most,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “New York’s Forest Rangers spent two weeks in harm’s way separated from friends and family to help protect our neighbors in the north, and I thank them for their service.”
Throughout Canada, more than 2,600 fires have burned an estimated 13 million acres. The first wildfire in Nova Scotia this year started in April. Since then, 212 wildfires have burned more than 62,272 acres. On June 8, Governor Hochul announced that a team of seven DEC Forest Rangers was deploying to assist with efforts to help contain the wildfires in Quebec. At the same time, New York State was under an Air Quality Health Advisory due to the smoke from those wildfires that traveled across state borders.
“We are all too familiar with the wildfires in Canada this month, but we’re fortunate to have brave men and women ready to mobilize to where help is needed the most,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “New York’s Forest Rangers spent two weeks in harm’s way separated from friends and family to help protect our neighbors in the north, and I thank them for their service.”
