South River, NM
South River wildfire risk explained
South River's 1,541 buildings earn a 51st-percentile wildfire-risk score nationally under USFS's model — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, South River's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 50th percentile nationally.
Where South River's buildings actually sit
Direct exposure dominates in South River: 91.6% of its 1,541 buildings, versus 8.4% Indirect and 0% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
How South River compares
South River ranks lower within New Mexico (18th percentile statewide) than its 51st national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, South River ranks 15,387 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 8,979 by building count (1 is largest). Within New Mexico alone, it ranks 408 of 495 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for New Mexico on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 51st national percentile, South River 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
With 91.6% of South River in Direct exposure, defensible-space clearing and ember-resistant construction (vents, Class-A roofing) address the exposure this page's own numbers describe, not a generic checklist. See the home-hardening guide.
Where South River's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind South River's 15,387-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what South River's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.