Emerson, AR
Emerson, AR's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS scores Emerson at the 59th national percentile for wildfire risk to structures (modestly above the national average for wildfire risk), a figure built from 241 real buildings rather than raw vegetation cover. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Emerson's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 60th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
61.4% of Emerson's 241 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 148 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 38.6% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
Where Emerson ranks
Emerson's 59th national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 40th ranking inside Arkansas does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 19 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Emerson ranks 12,815 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 23,415 by building count (1 is largest). Within Arkansas alone, it ranks 369 of 614 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Arkansas on its state page.
Emerson and the insurance market
Emerson's elevated rating (59th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Emerson (61.4%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Emerson's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Emerson's 12,815-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Emerson's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.