Kelford, NC
Kelford, NC's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS scores Kelford at the 45th national percentile for wildfire risk to structures (modestly above the national average for wildfire risk), a figure built from 184 real buildings rather than raw vegetation cover. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Kelford's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 44th percentile nationally.
Kelford's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS classifies 72.8% of Kelford's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 27.2% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 134 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Kelford against the rest of the country
Kelford's 45th national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 25th ranking inside North Carolina does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 20 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Kelford ranks 17,338 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 25,478 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Carolina alone, it ranks 576 of 772 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Carolina on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
Kelford's elevated rating (45th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Hardening a home in Kelford
Because Direct exposure dominates in Kelford (72.8%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Kelford's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 184 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Kelford. The exposure-zones guide covers what Kelford's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.