Darling, MS
Darling wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Darling at the 59th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 136 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Darling at the 57th national percentile — 2 points below its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Where Darling's buildings actually sit
USFS classifies 77.2% of Darling's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 1.5% Indirect share and far above its 21.3% Minimal share — a profile where 105 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Where Darling ranks
Darling ranks lower within Mississippi (31st percentile statewide) than its 59th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Darling ranks 13,019 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 27,449 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 290 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
Darling and the insurance market
Darling's elevated rating (59th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Hardening a home in Darling
With 77.2% of Darling in Direct exposure, defensible-space clearing and ember-resistant construction (vents, Class-A roofing) address the exposure this page's own numbers describe, not a generic checklist. See the home-hardening guide.
Where Darling's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 136 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Darling. The exposure-zones guide covers what Darling's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.