Cowles, NE
Cowles wildfire risk explained
Cowles sits at the 42nd 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 59 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Cowles's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 37th percentile nationally.
Where Cowles's buildings actually sit
USFS puts 57.6% of Cowles's 59 buildings in the Indirect exposure zone, versus 42.4% Direct and 0% Minimal — a place where the fire doesn't need to reach the structure directly for embers to.
Cowles against the rest of the country
Cowles's 42nd national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 26th ranking inside Nebraska does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 16 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Cowles ranks 18,310 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 30,684 by building count (1 is largest). Within Nebraska alone, it ranks 433 of 583 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Nebraska on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Cowles
Cowles's elevated rating (42nd percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
What would actually reduce this score
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Cowles (57.6% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Cowles's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 59 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Cowles. The exposure-zones guide covers what Cowles's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.