Forest Service to close research stations that study wildfire risk
newsApr 3, 2026
The US Forest Service will close 57 research stations that study wildfire behavior and climate impacts. The agency is relocating its headquarters from Washington to Utah and consolidating operations. Scientists warn the closures will jeopardize decades of monitoring data and hamper wildfire forecasting and management. The move will weaken regional land management, firefighting strategy, and climate research.
Key Highlights
Forest Service will close 57 research stations across the country.
Agency is relocating its headquarters from Washington to Utah.
Closures threaten decades of wildfire and climate monitoring data.