McCool, MS
McCool wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts McCool at the 69th national percentile for risk to structures, well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a score built from 110 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, McCool's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 71st percentile nationally.
Where McCool's buildings actually sit
USFS classifies 100% of McCool's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 0% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 110 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
How McCool compares
Inside Mississippi, McCool sits at just the 54th percentile even though it scores 69th nationally — the state's overall wildfire exposure is high enough to make this a relatively quiet corner of it. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, McCool ranks 9,799 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 28,624 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 196 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in McCool
At the 69th percentile nationally, McCool 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 McCool (100%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where McCool's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 110 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for McCool. The exposure-zones guide covers what McCool's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.