The U.S. Forest Service is closing down research stations ahead of a catastrophic wildfire season

Experts warn the changes could disrupt critical data used to predict and fight wildfires.

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it will be closing three-quarters of its research facilities as part of a reorganization. Now, experts are worried not only about the number of scientists who might be leaving the agency, but also about how the disruption could affect the gathering and dissemination of crucial wildfire and climate change data.