Elmdale, MN
Elmdale wildfire risk explained
Elmdale's 163 buildings earn a 55th-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.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Elmdale at the 53rd national percentile — 2 points below its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Where Elmdale's buildings actually sit
163 buildings are counted in Elmdale, and 59.5% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 40.5% rated Minimal.
Where Elmdale ranks
Elmdale's 80th-percentile standing inside Minnesota outpaces its 55th national percentile — this is a hotter spot than most of its own state, even though the state as a whole runs cooler nationally. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Elmdale ranks 14,310 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 26,286 by building count (1 is largest). Within Minnesota alone, it ranks 183 of 914 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Minnesota on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Elmdale
At the 55th national percentile, Elmdale rates elevated 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 Elmdale
Because Direct exposure dominates in Elmdale (59.5%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Elmdale's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Elmdale's 14,310-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Elmdale's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.