West Havre, MT
How exposed is West Havre to wildfire?
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts West Havre at the 57th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 251 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 West Havre at the 53rd percentile, close to its 57th-percentile risk score.
West Havre's building exposure, zone by zone
Indirect exposure is dominant in West Havre (53.8% of 251 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 46.2% sit in the Direct zone.
Where West Havre ranks
West Havre ranks lower within Montana (21st percentile statewide) than its 57th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, West Havre ranks 13,622 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 23,112 by building count (1 is largest). Within Montana alone, it ranks 376 of 475 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Montana on its state page.
West Havre and the insurance market
West Havre's elevated rating (57th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in West Havre (53.8% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 251 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for West Havre. For more on what indirect exposure implies beyond West Havre, see the exposure-zones guide.