Sunburst, MT
How exposed is Sunburst to wildfire?
Out of every US place USFS scores, Sunburst lands at the 56th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 382 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Sunburst's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 55th percentile nationally.
Where Sunburst's buildings actually sit
84% of Sunburst's 382 buildings fall in USFS's Indirect exposure zone — ember cast rather than direct flame — against 16% Direct and 0% Minimal. Vent screens and roofing material matter more here than lot clearing alone.
Sunburst against the rest of the country
Sunburst ranks lower within Montana (19th percentile statewide) than its 56th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Sunburst ranks 13,934 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 19,596 by building count (1 is largest). Within Montana alone, it ranks 384 of 475 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Montana on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Sunburst
At the 56th national percentile, Sunburst 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
Sunburst's 84% 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 Sunburst's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Sunburst's 13,934-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Sunburst's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.