Clendenin, WV
Clendenin, WV's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, Clendenin lands at the 80th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — in USFS's highest wildfire-risk band nationally — a figure built from its 661 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Clendenin at the 81st 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
USFS classifies 51.7% of Clendenin's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 48.3% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 342 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Clendenin against the rest of the country
Clendenin scores 80th nationally and 72nd within West Virginia — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Clendenin ranks 6,257 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 15,054 by building count (1 is largest). Within West Virginia alone, it ranks 123 of 429 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for West Virginia on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 80th percentile nationally, Clendenin carries the very 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.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Clendenin (51.7%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Clendenin's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 661 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Clendenin. The exposure-zones guide covers what Clendenin's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.