Gary, SD
How exposed is Gary to wildfire?
Gary's 253 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 Gary at the 53rd national percentile — 2 points below its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Gary's building exposure, zone by zone
54.6% of Gary's 253 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 138 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 45.5% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
Where Gary ranks
Gary ranks lower within South Dakota (37th percentile statewide) than its 55th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Gary ranks 14,289 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 23,060 by building count (1 is largest). Within South Dakota alone, it ranks 276 of 439 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for South Dakota on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Gary
Gary's elevated wildfire rating (55th percentile) isn't the kind of score driving the carrier pullback making news in the highest-risk Western markets — but a standard homeowners quote is still worth comparing on its own terms.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Gary (54.6%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Gary's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Gary's 14,289-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Gary's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.