DEC Forest Rangers Home from Fighting Montana Wildfires

Friday, August 11, 2017

We are pleased that the first crew of DEC employees, made up of mostly NYS Forest Rangers, made it back from fighting wildfires in Montana safe and sound. 

This News10 Albany story, with video, reported on the return of the first group of DEC employees returning to the Capital District.  Through interviews, the story explained why this practice of sending NYS DEC employees out west to fight fires is good for New York State.  Among the DEC personnel interviewed in this article were PBA Associate Director of the NYS Forest Rangers Chuck Kabrehl, and DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.  We appreciate Commissioner Seggos’ direct involvement in welcoming our members back from such a dangerous assignment.

We also just received some pictures from the second DEC crew sent to Montana, which is still there and will be for several more days.  Although these night pictures of NYS Forest Rangers are somewhat dark, it shows the level of dangers these PBA members face when fighting wildfires.  We wish all of these courageous members safety both during their duties and on the trip back home later this month.