I will be honest, the first time I heard of Yulan, New York, was when I saw a social media post early last week about an amazing rescue by the Yulan Fire Department. Yulan is located in Sullivan County. The Delaware River runs nearby, and the State of Pennsylvania is on the other side.
Kayaker Rescued by Local Fire Department
The Yulan Fire Department was organized in 1946. They serve the Town of Highland in Sullivan County. They are also the reason that a kayaker stuck on rocks in the middle of the Delaware River was rescued last Monday. According to the post on Facebook, it was Yulan’s first Drone Call. They had just posted on the 8th that they had gotten the device.
The Yulan Fire Department was dispatched for a water rescue that was south of the Barryville Bridge. They discovered a kayaker stuck on rocks about 200 yards south of the bridge. Reports also indicated that there might be a second kayaker stuck farther downriver.
Yulan Fire Department Rescues Kayakers
Yulan Fire Department via Facebook
The post states that personnel from Shohola were able to walk along the Pennsylvania shoreline and rescue the kayaker stuck on the rocks. A drone was called out to see if there might be another person stuck, as the report had indicated.
Drone Was Used To Locate a Kayaker Stranded on the River in Sullivan County
The Drone was dispatched and was able to locate the second kayaker about 100 yards downstream. The Rescuers were able to use speakers on the drone to tell the kayaker what to do. A Lumberland Airboat was sent to retrieve the kayaker from the shore and bring them back to safety.
Yulan Fire Department Rescues Kayakers
Yulan Fire Department via Facebook
Luckily, both kayakers were rescued, and neither individual had any injuries. Yulan Fire Department sent out a huge thank you to the mutual aid departments that assisted in what they are calling the first drone rescue.
Truck Accident on New York State Thruway
Around 5 AM on Monday, August 11th, 2025, a call came in reporting an accident at mile marker 110 near the Route 23A overpass on the northbound side of the New York State Thruway. The Catskill Fire Company responded and shared these photos. Luckily, both truck drivers walked away from this crash.
Gallery Credit: Paty Quyn
Fire Destroys Buildings at Apartment Complex in Ulster County, NY
Fire Departments battle a two-alarm fire at the Lakeshore Preserve Apartments in Port Ewen, New York.
Gallery Credit: Port Ewen Volunteer Fire Department