Submitted Photo An East Otto forest fire was contained by quick-thinking campers that called for help. The New York Forest Rangers quickly responded.

On Saturday, a campfire in Western New York almost became a wildfire. Forest rangers stopped it — but it could have spread fast. In the Cattaraugus County town of East Otto, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call of a “wildland fire” at about 1:45 p.m. from a camper at East Otto State Forest. The details included a ground fire at a campsite.

New York State Forest Rangers Robert Christopher and Zachary Robitaille determined the 40-square-foot fire resulted from an escaped campfire. Rangers dug a hand line around the fire and used a pump to transfer water from a nearby creek, bringing the fire under control. By 7:22 p.m., the fire was contained. Thanks to the quick thinking of the campers and the diligent, fast response from the forest rangers, a wildfire was prevented.

Weather records indicate that this year’s spring was exceptionally wet, but the summer of 2025 may be one of the driest in recent memory. A dangerous time for campfires in the dry woods.

Before black-and-white TV, in the early 1940s, Smokey the Bear came out with this phrase: “Smokey Says — Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires.” Then it was updated in 1947 to the now iconic phrase, “Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires.” That’s the one I remember as a kid. Older folks might recall watching Smokey the Bear on black-and-white TV with his constant catchphrase reminder for preventing forest fires.

Then, in 2001, it was updated again to “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” The phrases for Smokey were developed to highlight the responsibility that we all have in preventing fires caused by carelessness. The 2001 update addressed the growing reality that wildfires occur naturally in mountain forests, grasslands and other ecosystems. The public plays a crucial role in fire prevention by being cautious and responsible.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY webpages (https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hiking/hike-smart-ny) for more information. If a person needs a forest ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, then call 911. To contact a forest ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website provides phone numbers for each ranger, listed by region.

Those interested in becoming a forest ranger can apply by Sept. 17 to take the next Civil Service exam scheduled for this fall. The exam is a multiple-choice test. All candidates are qualified to take the entry-level law enforcement exam. Visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/police/, the Civil Service website, to learn more.

In the weekend edition, look for a story with details on legal crossbow hunting in New York state. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Tuesday of this week. It had only taken 30 years to legalize the crossbow in NYS.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Aug. 30: Labor Day Shoot, Hanover Fish & Game, sporting and 5-Stand, NSCA registered, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville; 716-934-4028.

Aug. 31: Hanover Fish/Game, Invitation from the Fredonia Trap Team, clay shooting open house. Students from grades 7-12 are invited to learn about trap shooting. Cost is $10. Club is at 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Info: https://www.hanoverclays.com/.

Sept. 1: NYS squirrel season opens (gray, black and fox). No closed season for red squirrels.

Sept. 1-25: NYS Canada goose designated southern zone hunting season, 15 birds per day, ends Sept. 25.

Sept. 3: 3-D Archery, Evans Rod/Gun, 864 Cain Road, Angola; 4 p.m. to dark, 15-target course, kitchen open, Jerome Gorski, 716-398-3008. Ends Sept. 24.

Sept. 7: NYS Hunter Education, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., no charge, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls; Visit: https://dec.ny.gov.