Wallace Ranger Station Heliport

While no official reason has been publicly stated, the closure is almost certainly due to the consolidation of U.S. Forest Service aviation resources. It is common for agencies like the USFS to centralize operations at larger, better-equipped regional airports or helibases (like the Coeur d'Alene Air Tanker Base) to improve efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and support a wider range of modern aircraft. Operating from a central hub is more cost-effective than maintaining numerous small, single-pad facilities.

The physical site of the former heliport still exists. Satellite imagery shows that the paved helipad area, located adjacent to the main Wallace Ranger Station office buildings, is now used as a general parking and equipment staging area. The U.S. Forest Service - Wallace Ranger District office remains fully active, but its direct aviation support is now staged from other regional facilities. The land is still owned and used by the USFS for its ground-based operations.

The Wallace Ranger Station Heliport was a vital support facility for the U.S. Forest Service's Wallace Ranger District, located within the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Its primary and most significant role was in wildland firefighting. The heliport served as a forward operating base for helicopters conducting:
- **Helitack Operations:** Rapid deployment of elite firefighting crews to remote and inaccessible wildfires.
- **Water/Retardant Drops:** Using helicopter buckets or tanks to directly attack fires.
- **Reconnaissance:** Flying over the forest to detect new fire starts, map existing fires, and provide situational awareness to ground crews.
- **Logistical Support:** Transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to remote work sites or fire camps.
- **Search and Rescue:** Assisting in search and rescue missions within the rugged, mountainous terrain of the district.
Given the dense forests and challenging topography of Northern Idaho, the heliport was a crucial asset for managing and protecting the national forest.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Wallace Ranger Station Heliport. The strategic shift by the U.S. Forest Service towards consolidated, regional aviation assets makes the reopening of a small, single-purpose helipad highly unlikely. Any future helicopter needs for the Wallace Ranger District will continue to be met by resources dispatched from larger, established airports and helibases in the region.