Machias, NY
Machias wildfire risk explained
Machias sits at the 13th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — among the lower wildfire-risk places nationally — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 331 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Machias's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 13th percentile nationally.
Where Machias's buildings actually sit
Direct exposure dominates in Machias: 79.8% of its 331 buildings, versus 20.2% Indirect and 0% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
Machias against the rest of the country
Compare Machias's two percentiles: 33rd within New York, only 13th nationally — a gap of 20 points that marks it as unusually exposed for its own state. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Machias ranks 27,303 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 20,799 by building count (1 is largest). Within New York alone, it ranks 868 of 1,289 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for New York on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
Machias's low rating (13th 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
Because Direct exposure dominates in Machias (79.8%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Machias's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 331 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Machias. The exposure-zones guide covers what Machias's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.