South Gifford, MO
South Gifford, MO's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts South Gifford at the 56th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 46 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
USFS's separate burn-probability score — fire likelihood alone, before counting what's built there — puts South Gifford at the 59th percentile, close to its 56th-percentile risk score.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
93.5% of South Gifford's 46 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 43 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 0% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 6.5% are Minimal.
Where South Gifford ranks
There's little gap between South Gifford's 56th national percentile and its 46th percentile inside Missouri, which means the state comparison mostly confirms what the national score already shows. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, South Gifford ranks 13,709 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 31,026 by building count (1 is largest). Within Missouri alone, it ranks 578 of 1,062 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Missouri on its state page.
South Gifford and the insurance market
At the 56th national percentile, South Gifford rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in South Gifford (93.5%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 46 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for South Gifford. For more on what direct exposure implies beyond South Gifford, see the exposure-zones guide.