Richardton, ND
How exposed is Richardton to wildfire?
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Richardton at the 46th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 589 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Richardton's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 43rd percentile nationally.
Where Richardton's buildings actually sit
Indirect exposure is dominant in Richardton (88.3% of 589 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 11.7% sit in the Direct zone.
How Richardton compares
Richardton scores 46th nationally and 40th within North Dakota — close enough that its state context doesn't change the picture the national number already gives. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Richardton ranks 17,154 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 15,982 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Dakota alone, it ranks 241 of 402 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Dakota on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Richardton
Richardton's elevated wildfire rating (46th 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.
Hardening a home in Richardton
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Richardton (88.3% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
More on how this number was built
Richardton's 46th-percentile score and its burn-probability figure both come from the same USFS workbook, documented in the methodology guide. For more on what indirect exposure implies beyond Richardton, see the exposure-zones guide.