Dodson, MT
How exposed is Dodson to wildfire?
Dodson sits at the 74th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 124 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Dodson at the 74th national percentile — 0 points below its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Dodson's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS puts 74.2% of Dodson's 124 buildings in the Indirect exposure zone, versus 25.8% Direct and 0% Minimal — a place where the fire doesn't need to reach the structure directly for embers to.
How Dodson compares
Dodson ranks lower within Montana (44th percentile statewide) than its 74th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Dodson ranks 8,195 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 27,993 by building count (1 is largest). Within Montana alone, it ranks 268 of 475 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Montana on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Dodson
At the 74th percentile nationally, Dodson carries the 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
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Dodson (74.2% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Dodson's figures come from
Dodson's 74th-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 Dodson's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.