Westby, MT
How exposed is Westby to wildfire?
Out of every US place USFS scores, Westby lands at the 64th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 229 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Westby at the 64th national percentile — 0 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Where Westby's buildings actually sit
USFS puts 58.5% of Westby's 229 buildings in the Indirect exposure zone, versus 41.5% Direct and 0% Minimal — a place where the fire doesn't need to reach the structure directly for embers to.
Where Westby ranks
Westby ranks lower within Montana (30th percentile statewide) than its 64th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Westby ranks 11,443 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 23,824 by building count (1 is largest). Within Montana alone, it ranks 331 of 475 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Montana on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 64th percentile nationally, Westby 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.
Hardening a home in Westby
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Westby (58.5% 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 229 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Westby. For more on what indirect exposure implies beyond Westby, see the exposure-zones guide.