Buffington, PA
Buffington wildfire risk explained
Buffington sits at the 34th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — close to the middle of USFS's national wildfire-risk range — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 168 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Buffington at the 37th national percentile — 2 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
Indirect exposure is dominant in Buffington (83.3% of 168 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 16.7% sit in the Direct zone.
Where Buffington ranks
Buffington scores 34th nationally and 48th within Pennsylvania — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Buffington ranks 20,747 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 26,110 by building count (1 is largest). Within Pennsylvania alone, it ranks 1,036 of 1,991 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Pennsylvania on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Buffington
Buffington's moderate rating (34th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
What would actually reduce this score
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Buffington (83.3% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 168 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Buffington. For more on what indirect exposure implies beyond Buffington, see the exposure-zones guide.