Gambell, AK
Gambell wildfire risk explained
Gambell sits at the 47th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 248 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
USFS's separate burn-probability score — fire likelihood alone, before counting what's built there — puts Gambell at the 50th percentile, close to its 47th-percentile risk score.
Where Gambell's buildings actually sit
96.8% of Gambell's 248 buildings fall in USFS's Indirect exposure zone — ember cast rather than direct flame — against 3.2% Direct and 0% Minimal. Vent screens and roofing material matter more here than lot clearing alone.
Where Gambell ranks
Gambell scores 47th nationally and 36th within Alaska — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Gambell ranks 16,660 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 23,192 by building count (1 is largest). Within Alaska alone, it ranks 205 of 322 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Alaska on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 47th national percentile, Gambell 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 Gambell
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Gambell (96.8% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Gambell's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 248 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Gambell. The exposure-zones guide covers what Gambell's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.