Utica, MS
Utica wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Utica lands at the 67th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 471 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Utica's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 70th percentile nationally.
Where Utica's buildings actually sit
88.3% of Utica's 471 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 416 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 11.7% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
How Utica compares
Utica's 67th national percentile looks worse in isolation than its 49th ranking inside Mississippi does — this place is on the milder end for its own state, by 18 points. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Utica ranks 10,304 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 17,856 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 213 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
Utica and the insurance market
At the 67th percentile nationally, Utica carries the high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Utica (88.3%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Utica's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 471 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Utica. The exposure-zones guide covers what Utica's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.