Donaldson, MN
Donaldson wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Donaldson lands at the 25th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — close to the middle of USFS's national wildfire-risk range — a figure built from its 51 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Donaldson's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 25th percentile nationally.
Donaldson's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS classifies 82.4% of Donaldson's buildings as Minimal exposure, the largest of the three zones here by a wide margin over 17.7% Direct and 0% Indirect — a landscape-level risk rather than a building-by-building one.
Donaldson against the rest of the country
Donaldson's risk sits at a similar level relative to Minnesota (29th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (25th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Donaldson ranks 23,795 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 30,900 by building count (1 is largest). Within Minnesota alone, it ranks 648 of 914 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Minnesota on its state page.
Donaldson and the insurance market
At the 25th national percentile, Donaldson rates moderate for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Hardening a home in Donaldson
Even with 82.4% of Donaldson outside USFS's Direct and Indirect zones, basic hardening — gutter maintenance, ember-resistant vents — is inexpensive relative to the regional burn-probability risk noted above. Details in the home-hardening guide.
Where Donaldson's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 51 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Donaldson. The exposure-zones guide covers what Donaldson's dominant minimal exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.