Mayo, SC
Mayo, SC's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Mayo at the 61st national percentile for risk to structures, well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a score built from 1,093 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Mayo's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 65th percentile nationally.
Where Mayo's buildings actually sit
86.7% of Mayo's 1,093 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 948 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 13.3% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
Where Mayo ranks
Mayo's 61st national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 23rd ranking inside South Carolina does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 39 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Mayo ranks 12,179 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 11,324 by building count (1 is largest). Within South Carolina alone, it ranks 366 of 474 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for South Carolina on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Mayo
At the 61st percentile nationally, Mayo carries the 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.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Mayo (86.7%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Mayo's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Mayo's 12,179-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Mayo's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.