For Release: Wednesday, July 26, 2006
DEC Forest Rangers Dispatched to Southern California
Crew Leaves For Los Padres National Forest to Help Control Wildfires
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that ten DEC Forest Rangers, two other DEC employees and seven DEC volunteer wildland firefighters are leaving for California today, July 26, 2006, to help combat raging wildfires on the Los Padres National Forest.
"New York State's Forest Rangers are among the most highly trained, professional wildfire fighting teams in the nation," Commissioner Sheehan said. "Throughout the years our Rangers have assisted neighboring States and Canadian Provinces in controlling large scale and dangerous wildfires, protecting life and property and our beautiful natural resources. These Forest Rangers and firefighters will be a tremendous asset in the fight to halt the spread of wildfires in southern California. I am extremely proud of their efforts and wish them luck on their journey."
The firefighters are being dispatched from Albany through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. This agreement allows for the sharing and dispatching of firefighters throughout the country.
The 19-person New York State wildland firefighting crew will depart from the Albany International Airport today and are expected to spend 14 days fighting fire in the Los Padres National Forest. The crew's initial assignment is expected to be on the Bald Wildland Fire, which is one of four fires managed under the San Rafael Complex. This fire is located about 20 miles west of Cuyama, California. The Bald fire began on July 22, 2006, from a lightning strike and as of Tuesday, July 25, the fire was affecting 1,250 acres and burning uncontrolled.
Forest Rangers and wildland firefighters dispatched to California, with their hometowns, includes:
| Title | Name | City or Town |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Boss | Forest Ranger Timothy Carpenter | Bath, NY |
| Squad Boss | Forest Ranger David Kallen | Stamford, NY |
| Squad Boss | Forest Ranger Ian Kerr | Ridge, NY |
| Squad Boss | Forest Ranger Adam Pickett | Little Falls, NY |
| Fireline EMT | Forest Ranger Julie Harjung | Saranac Lake, NY |
| Forest Ranger Chris DiCintio | Columbiaville, NY | |
| Forest Ranger Jason Scott | Gilboa, NY | |
| Forest Ranger Justin Thaine | Angelica, NY | |
| DEC Operations Jerry Eaves | Lowville, NY | |
| DEC Forester Daniel Gaidasz | Sloansville, NY | |
| Fireline EMT | Leonard Carson | Oneonta, NY |
| Anthony Cabales | Fresh Meadows, NY | |
| Christopher Kennedy | Hammondsport, NY | |
| Bruce Knudsen | Amsterdam, NY | |
| Patrick Conley | Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY | |
| John Solan Sr. | Cossayuna, NY | |
| Gary Glintenkamp | East Setauket, NY |
