Alsen, ND
Alsen, ND's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Alsen's 148 buildings earn a 76th-percentile wildfire-risk score nationally under USFS's model — well above the national norm for wildfire risk. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Alsen's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 72nd percentile nationally.
Alsen's building exposure, zone by zone
51.4% of Alsen's 148 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 76 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 4.7% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 43.9% are Minimal.
Alsen against the rest of the country
Alsen's 92nd-percentile standing inside North Dakota outpaces its 76th national percentile — this is a hotter spot than most of its own state, even though the state as a whole runs cooler nationally. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Alsen ranks 7,445 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 26,962 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Dakota alone, it ranks 32 of 402 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Dakota on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Alsen
Alsen's high rating (76th percentile) puts it among the places where the national carrier-pullback trend is most relevant — not a guarantee of a coverage problem, but a reason to shop rather than assume.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Alsen (51.4%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Alsen's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 148 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Alsen. The exposure-zones guide covers what Alsen's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.