Elba, AL
Elba wildfire risk explained
Elba's 2,235 buildings earn a 54th-percentile wildfire-risk score nationally under USFS's model — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Elba's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 55th percentile nationally.
Where Elba's buildings actually sit
Direct exposure dominates in Elba: 71.1% of its 2,235 buildings, versus 28.9% Indirect and 0% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
How Elba compares
Elba ranks lower within Alabama (10th percentile statewide) than its 54th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Elba ranks 14,580 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 6,850 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alabama alone, it ranks 535 of 592 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alabama on its state page.
Elba and the insurance market
At the 54th national percentile, Elba rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Elba (71.1%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Elba's figures come from
Elba's 54th-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 Elba's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.