Wildfire Risk Is on the Rise
Wildfires have become increasingly common across the U.S. While the western half of the U.S. is particularly vulnerable, droughts across the Southeast have also increased risks in 2026.[1] From evacuations to insurance losses, enduring a wildfire is a frightening and costly experience.
But not all parts of the country have the same history and future outlook when it comes to fire risks. The Zebra looked at three data sets to find which areas are the most dangerous when it comes to navigating wildfires:
- Overall wildfire risk: This metric determines the risk of wildfire compared to other communities in the country.
- Wildfire risk to property: This metric looks at the average risk score to property through 2050. The higher the percentile, the higher the risk.
- Acres burned by state: This data tracks the scale of damage in 2024.
We also show the average annual homeowners insurance premium for each city to see how wildfires and other facts may impact those costs.
Ready to find out the most dangerous cities for wildfires? Here's your top 10.
Wrapping Up
If you live in a city with a significant threat of wildfire, you may see home insurance costs rise as the threat of wildfire continues to grow as a result of global climate change.
In some cases, you may be able to improve your rates through fire mitigation strategies (which also have the bonus of better protecting your home from fire). Some states with a high risk of wildfire, like California, are even changing their approaches to wildfires and insurance.
The threat of wildfires isn't going away. Making sure your home insurance is up to date and your home is fully protected is critical if you live in a wildfire-prone area.
Methodology
The Zebra used three data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs by population related to wildfire risks.
- Likelihood of wildfire (USDA Wildfire Risk)[2]
- Risk to property (The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index)[3]
- Acres burned by state (Insurance Information Institute)[4]
The home insurance rates shown are generated by The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool, a proprietary estimator that uses the most up-to-date approved rate filings across the United States at the ZIP code level to ensure the data reflects current pricing. The underlying rate information is sourced from Quadrant Information Services, which compiles filings from insurers in every state using data from S&P Global.
- $300,000 in dwelling coverage
- $100,000 in liability coverage
- A $1,000 deductible
- Home construction year: 1981
- Homeowner age: 45
- 2% hurricane deductible in applicable states
- $2,000 wind/hail deductible
- Good credit
- Markets that are closed to new business, plus high-cost carriers, have been excluded in Oklahoma and Nebraska.
- While Hawaii shows as the most affordable premium, hurricane insurance is mandatory and not included in this total.