Matheson, CO
Matheson, CO's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Matheson at the 81st national percentile for risk to structures, in USFS's highest wildfire-risk band nationally — a score built from 121 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Matheson's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 79th percentile nationally.
Matheson's building exposure, zone by zone
121 buildings are counted in Matheson, and 81.8% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 0% rated Minimal.
Where Matheson ranks
Matheson ranks lower within Colorado (55th percentile statewide) than its 81st national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Matheson ranks 6,077 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 28,097 by building count (1 is largest). Within Colorado alone, it ranks 214 of 472 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Colorado on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Matheson
At the 81st percentile nationally, Matheson 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 Matheson
Because Direct exposure dominates in Matheson (81.8%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Matheson's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 121 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Matheson. The exposure-zones guide covers what Matheson's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.