Buffalo Soapstone, AK
Buffalo Soapstone, AK's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Buffalo Soapstone at the 48th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 628 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Buffalo Soapstone's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 48th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
100% of Buffalo Soapstone's 628 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 628 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 0% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
How Buffalo Soapstone compares
There's little gap between Buffalo Soapstone's 48th national percentile and its 38th percentile inside Alaska, which means the state comparison mostly confirms what the national score already shows. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Buffalo Soapstone ranks 16,439 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 15,465 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alaska alone, it ranks 201 of 322 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alaska on its state page.
Buffalo Soapstone and the insurance market
At the 48th national percentile, Buffalo Soapstone rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Hardening a home in Buffalo Soapstone
Because Direct exposure dominates in Buffalo Soapstone (100%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Buffalo Soapstone's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 628 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Buffalo Soapstone. The exposure-zones guide covers what Buffalo Soapstone's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.