Hartwell, GA
Hartwell, GA's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, Hartwell lands at the 59th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 2,488 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Hartwell's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 63rd percentile nationally.
Where Hartwell's buildings actually sit
2,488 buildings are counted in Hartwell, and 51.8% of them are Indirect exposure — ember-driven risk rather than the 48.2% in Direct exposure or the 0% rated Minimal.
Hartwell against the rest of the country
Hartwell ranks lower within Georgia (17th percentile statewide) than its 59th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Hartwell ranks 12,822 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 6,322 by building count (1 is largest). Within Georgia alone, it ranks 555 of 669 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Georgia on its state page.
Hartwell and the insurance market
Hartwell'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
Hartwell's 51.8% 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 Hartwell's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Hartwell's 12,822-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Hartwell's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.