Brant Lake South, SD
Brant Lake South, SD's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Brant Lake South at the 44th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 209 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Brant Lake South's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 42nd percentile nationally.
Where Brant Lake South's buildings actually sit
Most of Brant Lake South's buildings (78% of 209) fall outside USFS's Direct and Indirect zones entirely — that doesn't zero out the score above, it means the risk is regional, not structure-by-structure.
How Brant Lake South compares
Brant Lake South ranks lower within South Dakota (19th percentile statewide) than its 44th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Brant Lake South ranks 17,755 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 24,534 by building count (1 is largest). Within South Dakota alone, it ranks 354 of 439 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for South Dakota on its state page.
Brant Lake South and the insurance market
At the 44th national percentile, Brant Lake South 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
Even with 78% of Brant Lake South outside USFS's Direct and Indirect zones, basic hardening — gutter maintenance, ember-resistant vents — is inexpensive relative to the regional burn-probability risk noted above. Details in the home-hardening guide.
Where Brant Lake South's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Brant Lake South's 17,755-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Brant Lake South's dominant minimal exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.