Biddle, MT
How exposed is Biddle to wildfire?
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Biddle at the 95th national percentile for risk to structures, in USFS's highest wildfire-risk band nationally — a score built from 75 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Biddle's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 96th percentile nationally.
Biddle's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS classifies 92% of Biddle's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 8% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 69 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Biddle against the rest of the country
Biddle scores 95th nationally and 89th within Montana — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Biddle ranks 1,575 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 30,096 by building count (1 is largest). Within Montana alone, it ranks 54 of 475 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Montana on its state page.
Biddle and the insurance market
At the 95th percentile nationally, Biddle carries the very 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.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Biddle (92%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Biddle's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 75 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Biddle. The exposure-zones guide covers what Biddle's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.