Chatsworth, IA
How exposed is Chatsworth to wildfire?
Out of every US place USFS scores, Chatsworth lands at the 56th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 68 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Chatsworth's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 50th percentile nationally.
Where Chatsworth's buildings actually sit
USFS classifies 52.9% of Chatsworth's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 0% Indirect share and far above its 47.1% Minimal share — a profile where 36 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Where Chatsworth ranks
Compare Chatsworth's two percentiles: 78th within Iowa, only 56th nationally — a gap of 21 points that marks it as unusually exposed for its own state. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Chatsworth ranks 13,768 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 30,348 by building count (1 is largest). Within Iowa alone, it ranks 230 of 1,017 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Iowa on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Chatsworth
At the 56th national percentile, Chatsworth rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Chatsworth (52.9%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Chatsworth's figures come from
Chatsworth's 56th-percentile score and its burn-probability figure both come from the same USFS workbook, documented in the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Chatsworth's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.