LORRAINE, NY - At about 9:15 A.M. on Saturday, November 30, 2024, Lorraine Volunteer Fire Company Inc. Chief Mark Shelmidine received a phone call at his fire station from a lady out of the area stating that members of her family were snowed in somewhere at campsite in the town of Lorraine. The Lorraine area had received two-and-a-half to three-feet of snow overnight. 

After further questioning, Chief Shelmidine determined the three were possibly located on Berry Drive East, which is near their fire station. Berry Drive is not a road, but a very narrow private driveway over two miles long with numerous other small driveways to other private camp sites off from it. 

At 9:19 A.M., Chief Shelmidine contacted the Jefferson County 911 Center requesting they dispatch the Lorraine Volunteer Fire Company. He also contacted a neighboring farmer, Doug Morse, who is familiar with the area and the approximate location of the campsite.  

Lorraine Fire Assistant Chief Brian Soules and Captain James Bice responded with their tracked UTV 28-7-1. Other members also responded with Rescue 28–6-1. Mr. Morse also arrived with a large farm tractor and began to make his way along the drive to the camp site.  

UTV 28-7-1 arrived at the campsite to find three individuals who had spent the night in a tent. The three were inside their SUV, which was unable to move in the heavy snow. Lorraine Fire transported the two younger people, who were not dressed for heavy snow, to the Lorraine Fire Station. The third remained with the SUV until Mr. Morse arrived with his tractor and was able to move enough snow for the SUV to make its way back to the highway and the fire station. 

The Lorraine Volunteer Fire Company provides fire protection to the towns of Lorraine and Worth in the southeast portion of Jefferson County located in the Tug Hill area where they are often called during the winter to assist stranded or injured snowmobile operators and skiers.