Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Saturday welcomed home a team of 20
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, staff,
and volunteers who helped battle and contain wildfires in Sonoma County,
California. This is the third New York firefighting crew dispatched to fight
wildfires in western states this year.
"These brave New Yorkers stepped up to help our
neighbors at their time of greatest need and after battling dangerous wildfires
in California, I'm proud to welcome them back home," Governor Cuomo said.
"New Yorkers are tough, but they are caring and these courageous men and
women truly encapsulate the very best of this spirit."
When the New York crew arrived in California, 23 lives had
been lost and hundreds of homes were destroyed or threatened by the worst
wildfire in California history. By the time the crew departed, a total of 7,010
structures were destroyed and another 487 structures damaged. Currently, the
fire is 95 percent contained and full containment is expected by the end of the
month.
The firefighting team is made up of DEC employees and
volunteers, including State Forest Rangers that joined crews from other states
to help battle the wildfires. When the New York crew arrived, they were
assigned to the Nuns Fire and later transitioned to the Tubbs Fire during their
two-week deployment. More than 700 firefighters and support personnel continue
to work to suppress these fires.
The returning crew of New York Forest Rangers, employees and
volunteers from across the state include:
• David Kallen, Forest Ranger, Crew Boss, Fulton County
• Nancy Ganswindt, Forest Ranger, Squad Boss, Putnam County
• Gary Miller, Forest Ranger, Hamilton County
• Hannah O'Connor, Forest Ranger, Rensselaer County
• Zachary Robitaille, Forest Ranger, Chautauqua County
• Eric Kasza, DEC Volunteer Firefighter, Saratoga County
• Aaron Graves, DEC Lands & Forests, St. Lawrence County
• Scott Sabo, Forest Ranger, Squad Boss, Franklin County
• Adam Baldwin, Forest Ranger, St. Lawrence County
• Andrew Lewis, Forest Ranger, Fulton County
• Joseph Hess, Forest Ranger, Saratoga County
• Tyler Briggs, DEC Volunteer Firefighter, Albany County
•
Lawrence Day, DEC Volunteer Firefighter, Steuben County
• Charles Kabrehl, Forest Ranger, Squad Boss, Warren County
• Howard Kreft, Forest Ranger, Sullivan County
• Jared Booth, Forest Ranger, St. Lawrence County
•
Nathan Sprague, Forest Ranger, Cattaraugus County
• James Canevari, DEC Fish & Wildlife, St. Lawrence
County
• Steven Jackson, DEC Volunteer Firefighter, Albany County
• Samuel Griffis, DEC Volunteer Firefighter, Washington
County
The crew created control lines with hand tools, chainsaws
and intentional fire to contain the wildfire and protect threatened homes. They
worked in difficult terrain near local communities and endured daily
temperatures hovering close to 90 degrees.
"I commend our Forest Rangers, staff, and volunteers
for their bravery over these past two weeks in helping to contain this wildfire
and protect precious natural resources and private homes," said DEC
Commissioner Basil Seggos. "All New Yorkers should be proud of work our
fire crews do to battle these blazes. For nearly 40 years, New York has stood
ready and willing to assist our sister states in their time of need."
The team of firefighters began their assignment in
California on October 15, and arrived back in the Capital Region on October 28.
