A new report shows the U.S. Forest Service treated fewer acres for dangerous fuels that could cause wildfires in 2025 compared to the year before.
Arizona saw about an 11% drop in acreage treated for fuels last year.
The Forest Service removes fuels like dead and dried wood from forests to prevent very large wildfires. This can be done through controlled burns, for example.
"What we have to avoid is the mega fires that are so destructive. So, controlled burns as part of fuels management is very much part of building healthy forest ecosystems," said Aaron Weiss, executive director for the Center for Western Priorities, which conducted the study.
Overall, the Forest Service treated about 35% fewer acres for hazardous fuels last year.
Weiss says the reductions stem from the massive firings that happened in the Forest Service last year after President Donald Trump took office.
That was combined with the especially dry winter seen across the West.
“To essentially lose a year of that by falling more than one-third behind means heading into this fire season. It's a bad scenario on the ground," Weiss said.
Weiss said while the data for this year is still early, it looks like the Forest Service will be behind for much of 2026 as well.
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