Cathlamet, WA
How exposed is Cathlamet to wildfire?
Cathlamet sits at the 20th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — among the lower wildfire-risk places nationally — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 385 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Cathlamet's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 22nd percentile nationally.
Where Cathlamet's buildings actually sit
Indirect exposure is dominant in Cathlamet (88.1% of 385 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 11.2% sit in the Direct zone.
How Cathlamet compares
Cathlamet's risk sits at a similar level relative to Washington (31st percentile statewide) as it does nationally (20th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Cathlamet ranks 25,261 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 19,533 by building count (1 is largest). Within Washington alone, it ranks 434 of 628 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Washington on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Cathlamet
Cathlamet's low wildfire rating (20th percentile) isn't the kind of score driving the carrier pullback making news in the highest-risk Western markets — but a standard homeowners quote is still worth comparing on its own terms.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Cathlamet (88.1% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Cathlamet's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Cathlamet's 25,261-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Cathlamet's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.