Willow River, MN
Willow River wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Willow River lands at the 46th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 348 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Willow River's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 44th percentile nationally.
Willow River's building exposure, zone by zone
USFS classifies 65.8% of Willow River's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 34.2% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 229 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
How Willow River compares
Willow River's 68th-percentile standing inside Minnesota outpaces its 46th national percentile — this is a hotter spot than most of its own state, even though the state as a whole runs cooler nationally. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Willow River ranks 16,959 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 20,367 by building count (1 is largest). Within Minnesota alone, it ranks 292 of 914 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Minnesota on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Willow River
Willow River's elevated rating (46th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
What would actually reduce this score
Because Direct exposure dominates in Willow River (65.8%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Willow River's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 348 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Willow River. The exposure-zones guide covers what Willow River's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.