Markham, WA
Markham wildfire risk explained
Markham sits at the 20th 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 115 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Markham's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 19th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
USFS classifies 93.9% of Markham's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 3.5% Indirect share and far above its 2.6% Minimal share — a profile where 108 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Where Markham ranks
There's little gap between Markham's 20th national percentile and its 30th percentile inside Washington, which means the state comparison mostly confirms what the national score already shows. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Markham ranks 25,290 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 28,431 by building count (1 is largest). Within Washington alone, it ranks 438 of 628 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Washington on its state page.
Markham and the insurance market
Markham's low wildfire rating (20th 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 Markham (93.9%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Markham's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 115 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Markham. The exposure-zones guide covers what Markham's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.