Arbela, MO
Arbela wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Arbela lands at the 66th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 42 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Arbela at the 67th national percentile — 2 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
42 buildings are counted in Arbela, and 83.3% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 16.7% rated Minimal.
Where Arbela ranks
Arbela scores 66th nationally and 71st within Missouri — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Arbela ranks 10,843 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 31,113 by building count (1 is largest). Within Missouri alone, it ranks 308 of 1,062 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Missouri on its state page.
Arbela and the insurance market
At the 66th percentile nationally, Arbela carries the high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
Hardening a home in Arbela
Because Direct exposure dominates in Arbela (83.3%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 42 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Arbela. For more on what direct exposure implies beyond Arbela, see the exposure-zones guide.