Gerlach, NV
Gerlach, NV's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, Gerlach lands at the 88th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — in USFS's highest wildfire-risk band nationally — a figure built from its 214 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Gerlach at the 89th national percentile — 1 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Gerlach's building exposure, zone by zone
Indirect exposure is dominant in Gerlach (77.1% of 214 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 13.1% sit in the Direct zone.
Gerlach against the rest of the country
Gerlach ranks lower within Nevada (43rd percentile statewide) than its 88th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Gerlach ranks 3,690 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 24,339 by building count (1 is largest). Within Nevada alone, it ranks 71 of 123 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Nevada on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Gerlach
At the 88th percentile nationally, Gerlach carries the very high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
Hardening a home in Gerlach
Gerlach's 77.1% Indirect-exposure share points at embers, not flame contact, as the main pathway — ember-resistant vents and non-combustible roofing rank ahead of defensible space here. Detail in the home-hardening guide.
Where Gerlach's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 214 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Gerlach. The exposure-zones guide covers what Gerlach's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.