Wildfire has become one of the defining natural hazards of the American West. The combination of drought, forest management challenges, and expanding development into the wildland-urban interface has created a growing risk that affects millions of homeowners. Here's what the data shows for western ZIP codes.
The Wildland-Urban Interface
The WUI - where human development meets undeveloped wildland - is the primary zone of wildfire risk to homes. Nearly 50 million homes in the US are in or near the WUI. In California alone, over 2 million homes are in very high fire hazard severity zones.
California: The Epicenter
California faces the most significant wildfire risk in the nation. The combination of Mediterranean climate (dry summers), Santa Ana winds, and decades of fire suppression creating fuel buildup has led to increasingly destructive fire seasons. ZIP codes in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Santa Monica Mountains, and the East Bay Hills face the highest risk.
Oregon and Washington
The Pacific Northwest has seen increasing wildfire activity, particularly east of the Cascades. The 2020 Labor Day fires in Oregon demonstrated that even typically wet western Oregon is not immune. ZIP codes in Central Oregon, Eastern Washington, and the Cascade foothills face elevated risk.
Colorado and the Mountain West
Colorado's Front Range communities face significant wildfire risk, as demonstrated by the Marshall Fire in 2021 - the most destructive fire in Colorado history, burning through suburban neighborhoods. Mountain communities throughout Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana face similar risk.
What You Can Do
Creating defensible space around your home (removing vegetation within 100 feet), using fire-resistant building materials, maintaining ember-resistant vents, and having an evacuation plan are all critical steps for western homeowners. Check your ZIP code's fire risk score on ZipRiskMap to understand your specific exposure.