Banks, AL
Banks wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Banks at the 59th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 173 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Banks's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 62nd percentile nationally.
Where Banks's buildings actually sit
173 buildings are counted in Banks, and 76.9% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 0% rated Minimal.
Where Banks ranks
Banks's 59th national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 24th ranking inside Alabama does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 35 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Banks ranks 12,783 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 25,878 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alabama alone, it ranks 446 of 592 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alabama on its state page.
Banks and the insurance market
At the 59th national percentile, Banks rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Banks (76.9%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Banks's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 173 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Banks. The exposure-zones guide covers what Banks's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.