Oakland, MD
How exposed is Oakland to wildfire?
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Oakland at the 49th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 1,076 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Oakland's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 48th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
1,076 buildings are counted in Oakland, and 51.9% of them are Indirect exposure — ember-driven risk rather than the 48.1% in Direct exposure or the 0% rated Minimal.
Where Oakland ranks
Compare Oakland's two percentiles: 68th within Maryland, only 49th nationally — a gap of 20 points that marks it as unusually exposed for its own state. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Oakland ranks 16,232 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 11,420 by building count (1 is largest). Within Maryland alone, it ranks 168 of 527 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Maryland on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 49th national percentile, Oakland rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Hardening a home in Oakland
Oakland's 51.9% Indirect-exposure share points at embers, not flame contact, as the main pathway — ember-resistant vents and non-combustible roofing rank ahead of defensible space here. Detail in the home-hardening guide.
Where Oakland's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 1,076 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Oakland. The exposure-zones guide covers what Oakland's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.