Chidester, AR
Chidester wildfire risk explained
Chidester sits at the 57th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 263 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Chidester at the 59th national percentile — 1 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
Direct exposure dominates in Chidester: 70% of its 263 buildings, versus 30% Indirect and 0% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
Where Chidester ranks
Chidester ranks lower within Arkansas (37th percentile statewide) than its 57th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Chidester ranks 13,414 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 22,716 by building count (1 is largest). Within Arkansas alone, it ranks 385 of 614 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Arkansas on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Chidester
At the 57th national percentile, Chidester rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Chidester (70%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Chidester's figures come from
Chidester's 57th-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 Chidester's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.