Wildfire Risk Isn't Just a California Problem

Why other states appear on wildfire maps

The U.S. Forest Service produces a national Wildfire Hazard Potential dataset. Its purpose is to help identify landscapes where intense wildfire may be difficult to manage. It is not limited to California, and it should not be read as a ranking of individual houses.

Start with the mapped information for your area instead of assuming that a familiar state reputation describes every neighborhood. Local vegetation and the relationship between buildings and surrounding land deserve a closer look.

Why a hazard class is not a forecast

The Forest Service describes WHP as a long-term planning tool. It does not incorporate current or forecast weather or fuel moisture, and it is not a seasonal fire outlook. The classes range from very low to very high; the dataset also distinguishes water and non-burnable land.

A lower class does not certify that a home is safe. A higher class does not establish that damage will occur, that insurance will be declined, or that a particular premium is appropriate.

How to check without overreading the result

Hazard Clarity queries wildfire data at an estimated location derived from the matched address. That point is not a surveyed parcel or a building inspection. Read the matched address and any unavailable-data notices before interpreting the class.

1. Compare the report with the Forest Service’s dataset description and its coverage notes.
2. Use Wildfire Risk to Communities for additional community-level datasets; different layers measure different things.
3. Ask your local fire authority which property-assessment and preparedness resources apply nearby.
4. Bring inspection records and specific coverage questions to your insurance professional.

For the underlying screening method, read our wildfire data and rating definitions.