Capitola, FL
Capitola, FL's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS scores Capitola at the 79th national percentile for wildfire risk to structures (well above the national norm for wildfire risk), a figure built from 185 real buildings rather than raw vegetation cover. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
USFS's separate burn-probability score — fire likelihood alone, before counting what's built there — puts Capitola at the 79th percentile, close to its 79th-percentile risk score.
Capitola's building exposure, zone by zone
96.2% of Capitola's 185 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 178 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 3.8% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
How Capitola compares
Capitola ranks lower within Florida (46th percentile statewide) than its 79th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Capitola ranks 6,552 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 25,409 by building count (1 is largest). Within Florida alone, it ranks 517 of 955 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Florida on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 79th percentile nationally, Capitola 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 96.2% of Capitola 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.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 185 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Capitola. For more on what direct exposure implies beyond Capitola, see the exposure-zones guide.