Know Your Ground

US Counties Ranked by Wildfire Risk

562 of 3,135 US counties carry wildfire among their leading natural hazards. These are the FEMA National Risk Index scores, ranked — and what each level actually means for a household living there.

Reading the score

FEMA scores are relative to the national distribution, so a “Relatively Moderate” rating can still describe a county that sees fire most summers. The practical question is not the label but what it changes about how you prepare.

75–100

Among the highest in the country

Defensible space and a rehearsed evacuation plan are not optional. Insurers increasingly require the former.

50–75

Well above national average

Clear defensible space, know two evacuation routes, keep go-bags packed through the season.

25–50

Meaningful, seasonal

Clear gutters before dry season, know your route, stock N95 masks for smoke.

0–25

Present but limited

Smoke from regional fires is the realistic exposure. Masks and a supply buffer cover most of it.

Highest wildfire risk in the US

#	County	State	Score	Level
1	Riverside	CA	100.0	Among the highest in the country
2	Los Angeles	CA	89.6	Among the highest in the country
3	San Diego	CA	83.8	Among the highest in the country
4	San Bernardino	CA	74.9	Well above the national average
5	Navajo	AZ	74.8	Well above the national average
6	Gila	AZ	70.6	Well above the national average
7	Yavapai	AZ	64.0	Well above the national average
8	Coconino	AZ	57.9	Well above the national average
9	Marion	FL	57.4	Well above the national average
10	Pima	AZ	56.5	Well above the national average
11	Madera	CA	51.7	Well above the national average
12	Lee	FL	51.1	Well above the national average
13	Brevard	FL	50.0	Well above the national average
14	Otero	NM	49.6	Meaningful, seasonal
15	Polk	FL	48.5	Meaningful, seasonal
16	Volusia	FL	47.5	Meaningful, seasonal
17	Collier	FL	46.5	Meaningful, seasonal
18	Kern	CA	46.2	Meaningful, seasonal
19	Apache	AZ	45.5	Meaningful, seasonal
20	Charlotte	FL	45.4	Meaningful, seasonal
21	Osceola	FL	45.0	Meaningful, seasonal
22	Citrus	FL	43.9	Meaningful, seasonal
23	Mohave	AZ	43.6	Meaningful, seasonal
24	Glynn	GA	43.3	Meaningful, seasonal
25	Lake	FL	43.1	Meaningful, seasonal

Source: FEMA National Risk Index. Scores 0–100, higher = more risk.

Wildfire risk by state

California — 51 counties, highest 100.0

Riverside 100 Los Angeles 90 San Diego 84 San Bernardino 75 Madera 52 Kern 46 Fresno 43 Tuolumne 42 Lake 42 Mariposa 42 Ventura 40 Monterey 39 Shasta 38 Santa Barbara 38 Orange 37 Butte 36 Calaveras 36 Santa Cruz 36 Sonoma 36 Nevada 35 Tulare 35 Siskiyou 33 Plumas 33 Trinity 29 Mendocino 29 El Dorado 27 Tehama 27 San Luis Obispo 26 Amador 25 Sierra 25 Napa 25 Yuba 23 Contra Costa 22 Humboldt 22 Placer 22 Alameda 21 Modoc 20 Santa Clara 18 San Benito 18 San Mateo 17 Stanislaus 16 Sacramento 16 Solano 16 Merced 15 Mono 14 Glenn 13 Colusa 12 Del Norte 12 Alpine 10 Marin 10 Lassen 7

Arizona — 14 counties, highest 74.8

Navajo 75 Gila 71 Yavapai 64 Coconino 58 Pima 57 Apache 46 Mohave 44 Maricopa 42 Cochise 33 Santa Cruz 31 Pinal 31 Graham 13 La Paz 9 Greenlee 6

Florida — 51 counties, highest 57.4

Marion 57 Lee 51 Brevard 50 Polk 49 Volusia 48 Collier 47 Charlotte 45 Osceola 45 Citrus 44 Lake 43 Broward 42 Sarasota 41 Orange 40 Highlands 38 Alachua 34 Pasco 31 Sumter 30 Flagler 30 Hernando 30 Putnam 30 Hendry 29 Hillsborough 26 Indian River 26 Glades 26 Martin 24 Okeechobee 24 DeSoto 23 Levy 23 Duval 22 Columbia 20 Hardee 20 Leon 20 Nassau 19 Bradford 16 Suwannee 16 Gadsden 16 St. Johns 15 Clay 14 Dixie 14 Franklin 13 Baker 13 Gilchrist 12 Taylor 11 Santa Rosa 10 Wakulla 9 Madison 9 Hamilton 8 Liberty 8 Gulf 7 Union 6 Lafayette 5

New Mexico — 27 counties, highest 49.6

Otero 50 Lincoln 41 Grant 38 Santa Fe 37 Colfax 35 Mora 34 Taos 32 San Miguel 32 Catron 30 Rio Arriba 29 Sierra 29 Lea 25 Roosevelt 24 Quay 19 Socorro 18 Bernalillo 17 Luna 17 Sandoval 15 Hidalgo 14 De Baca 14 San Juan 13 Curry 13 Harding 13 Torrance 11 Guadalupe 11 Union 10 Los Alamos 3

Georgia — 14 counties, highest 43.3

Glynn 43 Chatham 34 McIntosh 27 Ware 18 Camden 15 Liberty 12 Lowndes 11 Clinch 11 Pierce 11 Bryan 10 Brantley 10 Echols 9 Charlton 8 Long 6

South Dakota — 10 counties, highest 42.3

Oglala Lakota 42 Todd 30 Pennington 24 Fall River 21 Bennett 18 Custer 17 Jackson 11 Meade 10 Haakon 6 Harding 3

Utah — 23 counties, highest 41.6

Washington 42 Iron 20 Utah 16 Kane 14 Weber 13 Tooele 13 San Juan 13 Sanpete 12 Millard 12 Juab 11 Garfield 11 Wasatch 10 Sevier 10 Box Elder 10 Grand 9 Beaver 9 Carbon 9 Rich 8 Piute 8 Duchesne 6 Daggett 5 Summit 5 Morgan 3

Nevada — 12 counties, highest 40.7

Clark 41 Washoe 34 Elko 30 Douglas 28 Carson 23 Lyon 20 Humboldt 19 Storey 14 Nye 12 Lander 11 Eureka 9 Pershing 7

Washington — 15 counties, highest 34.0

Okanogan 34 Chelan 33 Yakima 32 Kittitas 24 Klickitat 20 Ferry 16 Grant 14 Spokane 14 Douglas 14 Stevens 14 Lincoln 11 Benton 11 Asotin 9 Columbia 9 Garfield 6

New Jersey — 2 counties, highest 33.4

Atlantic 33 Cape May 20

Texas — 102 counties, highest 31.4

Presidio 31 Llano 29 Gillespie 28 Tom Green 27 Jeff Davis 27 Kerr 26 Burnet 25 Hutchinson 25 Taylor 25 Brown 24 Nolan 23 Kimble 23 Coke 23 Edwards 22 Donley 22 Midland 21 Schleicher 21 Ector 21 Coleman 21 Real 21 Brewster 20 Eastland 20 Erath 20 Montague 20 Hall 19 Val Verde 19 Crosby 19 Wheeler 18 Comanche 18 Palo Pinto 18 Bandera 18 Brooks 18 Grayson 18 Hays 18 Blanco 18 Gray 18 Howard 18 Hemphill 18 Garza 17 Lamar 17 Menard 17 Uvalde 17 Crockett 17 Sterling 17 Wise 17 Young 17 Cottle 17 Gaines 17 Matagorda 17 Callahan 17 Clay 17 Lampasas 17 Kent 17 Parker 17 Bosque 17 Mason 17 Hamilton 16 Hood 16 Stonewall 16 Scurry 16 McCulloch 15 Comal 15 Kendall 15 Dickens 15 Bell 15 Yoakum 14 Irion 14 Johnson 14 Orange 14 Mills 14 Sutton 14 Coryell 13 Navarro 13 Runnels 13 Andrews 13 Throckmorton 13 Williamson 12 Stephens 12 Fisher 11 San Saba 11 Ellis 11 Shackelford 11 Motley 11 Archer 10 Somervell 10 Ward 10 Baylor 10 Limestone 10 Carson 9 La Salle 9 Mitchell 9 Jack 9 King 9 Kenedy 8 Crane 8 Concho 7 Borden 6 Winkler 6 Reagan 6 Chambers 5 Roberts 5 Glasscock 1

Oregon — 19 counties, highest 29.8

Wasco 30 Josephine 28 Jackson 26 Deschutes 25 Jefferson 25 Crook 21 Grant 19 Baker 18 Umatilla 17 Malheur 16 Wallowa 16 Hood River 16 Wheeler 16 Union 15 Harney 14 Curry 12 Sherman 8 Lake 8 Gilliam 7

Montana — 26 counties, highest 29.7

Ravalli 30 Lincoln 18 Lake 18 Flathead 16 Sanders 15 Missoula 15 Mineral 14 Madison 14 Granite 14 Lewis and Clark 13 Rosebud 13 Park 13 Meagher 11 Silver Bow 9 Powder River 9 Beaverhead 9 Stillwater 9 Gallatin 8 Musselshell 8 Garfield 8 Jefferson 8 Carter 6 Powell 6 Petroleum 6 Broadwater 5 Judith Basin 5

Idaho — 31 counties, highest 29.6

Valley 30 Idaho 28 Adams 26 Elmore 25 Boise 24 Bannock 23 Gem 21 Owyhee 20 Lemhi 20 Ada 20 Blaine 17 Twin Falls 17 Washington 16 Gooding 14 Lincoln 14 Power 14 Cassia 13 Canyon 12 Clearwater 12 Teton 12 Jerome 12 Payette 11 Oneida 10 Bear Lake 10 Fremont 10 Camas 10 Nez Perce 9 Custer 9 Lewis 9 Franklin 7 Latah 5

North Carolina — 5 counties, highest 28.6

Brunswick 29 Carteret 24 Pender 17 Pamlico 12 Hyde 9

Oklahoma — 33 counties, highest 28.6

Pittsburg 29 Muskogee 24 McIntosh 24 Pontotoc 24 Bryan 24 Seminole 24 Okmulgee 23 Pottawatomie 23 Coal 22 Carter 22 Hughes 21 Creek 20 Pushmataha 20 Okfuskee 20 Osage 19 Lincoln 19 Marshall 19 Atoka 19 Comanche 18 Stephens 18 Jefferson 17 Johnston 16 Rogers 16 Love 15 Murray 14 Pawnee 14 Roger Mills 14 Beckham 13 Grady 13 Payne 13 Cimarron 11 Woods 9 Ellis 8

Mississippi — 7 counties, highest 27.4

Harrison 27 Jackson 24 Hancock 18 Pearl River 17 Stone 12 Perry 9 George 8

South Carolina — 5 counties, highest 26.9

Charleston 27 Georgetown 26 Horry 26 Colleton 13 Jasper 9

Colorado — 30 counties, highest 25.4

Jefferson 25 El Paso 21 Pueblo 19 Teller 19 Huerfano 18 Montezuma 17 Archuleta 17 La Plata 16 Las Animas 16 Custer 15 Mesa 15 Montrose 13 Fremont 13 Park 13 Delta 12 Garfield 12 Rio Blanco 11 Costilla 10 Ouray 10 Clear Creek 8 Hinsdale 7 Dolores 7 Moffat 7 Mineral 7 Routt 5 San Miguel 5 Pitkin 4 Elbert 4 San Juan 3 Douglas 1

Alabama — 2 counties, highest 23.8

Mobile 24 Baldwin 17

Kentucky — 21 counties, highest 22.8

Pike 23 Floyd 21 Knox 20 Laurel 20 Whitley 19 Jackson 16 Owsley 16 Wolfe 15 Perry 15 Knott 13 Johnson 13 Clay 13 Magoffin 13 Letcher 12 Menifee 12 Carter 11 Morgan 11 Lawrence 10 Martin 9 Elliott 9 Lee 8

Kansas — 6 counties, highest 22.4

Reno 22 Morris 13 Greenwood 13 Wabaunsee 9 Riley 7 Pottawatomie 6

Wyoming — 13 counties, highest 20.9

Fremont 21 Sheridan 14 Natrona 12 Converse 10 Teton 9 Uinta 9 Niobrara 8 Johnson 8 Weston 8 Albany 7 Crook 5 Sublette 4 Campbell 3

Maryland — 2 counties, highest 20.8

Dorchester 21 Somerset 17

Minnesota — 16 counties, highest 19.5

Beltrami 20 Kittson 19 Polk 14 Clearwater 14 Marshall 14 Roseau 13 Cook 12 Wadena 12 Becker 12 Anoka 11 Lake 11 Kanabec 10 Pennington 10 Sherburne 8 Red Lake 6 Lake of the Woods 6

North Dakota — 1 county, highest 19.2

Virginia — 6 counties, highest 16.6

Wise 17 Dickenson 15 Accomack 14 Buchanan 12 Rockbridge 11 Augusta 11

Michigan — 4 counties, highest 15.2

Crawford 15 Oscoda 15 Lake 12 Chippewa 9

West Virginia — 6 counties, highest 14.5

Logan 15 Wayne 14 Mingo 12 Lincoln 11 Boone 11 Monroe 9

Nebraska — 5 counties, highest 13.8

Sheridan 14 Cherry 13 Dawes 10 Grant 7 Sioux 6

Louisiana — 1 county, highest 8.5

Massachusetts — 2 counties, highest 4.5

Dukes 5 Nantucket 3

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