Saluda, VA
How exposed is Saluda to wildfire?
Saluda sits at the 46th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 400 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Saluda's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 47th percentile nationally.
Where Saluda's buildings actually sit
400 buildings are counted in Saluda, and 74.3% 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.
How Saluda compares
Saluda's risk sits at a similar level relative to Virginia (46th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (46th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Saluda ranks 17,035 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 19,220 by building count (1 is largest). Within Virginia alone, it ranks 369 of 681 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Virginia on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Saluda
Saluda's elevated rating (46th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Hardening a home in Saluda
Because Direct exposure dominates in Saluda (74.3%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Saluda's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 400 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Saluda. The exposure-zones guide covers what Saluda's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.