Cantwell, AK
Cantwell wildfire risk explained
Cantwell's 161 buildings earn a 66th-percentile wildfire-risk score nationally under USFS's model — well above the national norm for wildfire risk. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Cantwell's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 62nd percentile nationally.
Where Cantwell's buildings actually sit
USFS classifies 93.8% of Cantwell's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 6.2% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 151 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Where Cantwell ranks
Cantwell's 66th national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 49th ranking inside Alaska does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 17 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Cantwell ranks 10,705 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 26,366 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alaska alone, it ranks 165 of 322 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alaska on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Cantwell
At the 66th percentile nationally, Cantwell 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
With 93.8% of Cantwell in Direct exposure, defensible-space clearing and ember-resistant construction (vents, Class-A roofing) address the exposure this page's own numbers describe, not a generic checklist. See the home-hardening guide.
Where Cantwell's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 161 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Cantwell. The exposure-zones guide covers what Cantwell's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.