Faulkton, SD
Faulkton wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Faulkton lands at the 57th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 612 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Faulkton's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 55th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
USFS puts 87.1% of Faulkton's 612 buildings in the Indirect exposure zone, versus 12.9% Direct and 0% Minimal — a place where the fire doesn't need to reach the structure directly for embers to.
Faulkton against the rest of the country
Faulkton ranks lower within South Dakota (40th percentile statewide) than its 57th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Faulkton ranks 13,662 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 15,676 by building count (1 is largest). Within South Dakota alone, it ranks 262 of 439 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for South Dakota on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
Faulkton's elevated rating (57th 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
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Faulkton (87.1% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Faulkton's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Faulkton's 13,662-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Faulkton's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.