Basye, VA
Basye, VA's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, Basye lands at the 72nd percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 1,427 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Basye's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 70th percentile nationally.
Basye's building exposure, zone by zone
98.5% of Basye's 1,427 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 1,405 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 1.5% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
How Basye compares
Basye's risk sits at a similar level relative to Virginia (85th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (72nd) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Basye ranks 8,934 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 9,497 by building count (1 is largest). Within Virginia alone, it ranks 101 of 681 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Virginia on its state page.
Basye and the insurance market
At the 72nd percentile nationally, Basye 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.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Basye (98.5%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Basye's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 1,427 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Basye. The exposure-zones guide covers what Basye's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.