Elkhorn, CA
Elkhorn wildfire risk explained
Elkhorn sits at the 68th 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 892 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Elkhorn's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 70th percentile nationally.
Where Elkhorn's buildings actually sit
Direct exposure dominates in Elkhorn: 92.9% of its 892 buildings, versus 0.7% Indirect and 6.4% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
How Elkhorn compares
Elkhorn ranks lower within California (26th percentile statewide) than its 68th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Elkhorn ranks 9,946 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 12,790 by building count (1 is largest). Within California alone, it ranks 1,163 of 1,570 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for California on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Elkhorn
Because Elkhorn is in California, a wildfire-hazard disclosure is legally required before a sale closes here — unusual nationally, since only these two states mandate it. The state's FAIR Plan alone carried 668,609 policies by the end of 2025. Full detail in the disclosure-law guide.
Hardening a home in Elkhorn
With 92.9% of Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 892 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Elkhorn. The exposure-zones guide covers what Elkhorn's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.