Wildfires are a devastating threat to homeowners in many places, with more than 2.6 million homes in 14 states at moderate to very high risk of damage this year, according to the 2024 Wildfire Risk Report from analytics firm CoreLogic.
Surprisingly, federal government data shows that the number of wildfires has decreased slightly over the past three decades. However, in recent years, the amount of area that typically burns in each fire is on the rise.
A large number of properties now sit in areas at high risk of wildfires, and that fact is it making it more difficult for residents to get homeowners insurance in these places.
In particular, the following states have the most homes with a moderate to very high risk of wildfire damage, CoreLogic says.
1. California
Homes in this state with a moderate or greater risk: 1,258,748
Respective reconstruction cost value for those homes: $769.4 billion
California leads the nation — by far — in terms of the number of homes at significant risk of wildfire damage. Ten of the top 15 metros are located in the Golden State.
The cities in California that rank among the top 15 in the nation for at-risk homes are:
- Los Angeles: 245,670
- Riverside: 210,859
- San Diego: 138,600
- Sacramento: 100,814
- San Francisco: 93,452
- Oxnard: 60,847
- Redding: 34,910
- Santa Rosa: 29,108
- Salinas: 21,936
- Santa Barbara: 17,887
2. Colorado
Homes in this state with a moderate or greater risk: 321,294
Respective reconstruction cost value for those homes: $140.9 billion
Colorado’s natural beauty hides the fact that devastating wildfires are always a possibility for a significant number of homes here.
The cities in Colorado that rank among the top 15 in the nation for at-risk homes are:
- Denver: 68,928
- Colorado Springs: 50,298
3. Texas
Homes in this state with a moderate or greater risk: 244,617
Respective reconstruction cost value for those homes: $88.4 billion
As with the other states on this list, the fear is that as climate-change driven drought dries out the landscape, future fires in Texas could become more destructive.
The cities in Texas that rank among the top 15 in the nation for at-risk homes are:
- Austin: 94,673
- San Antonio: 78,207
The rest of the top 10
Here are the remaining states in the top 10 with the number of homes at risk for wildfire damage and reconstruction cost value:
- Oregon: 129,567 — $45.3 billion
- Arizona: 124,603 — $36.2 billion
- Idaho: 104,782 — $34.9 billion
- New Mexico: 120,093 — $34.7 billion
- Utah: 67,023 — $32.3 billion
- Montana: 88,102 — $31.3 billion
- Washington: 59,563 — $20.9 billion
Protecting your home from wildfires
Wildfires can have a devastating impact on the lives of individuals. Since there is no way to stop these events, it is best to prepare for their possibility so you can mitigate the potential damage they can cause.
Start by proactively implementing the “6 Moves to Protect Your Home and Property From Wildfires.” Most of these tips are inexpensive and a lot easier to complete than you might imagine.
Also, take advantage of the “6 Free Tools That Help You Prepare for Natural Disasters of All Sorts.” Even if your home is not in danger of wildfire damage, it is likely you will find good resources in this story that can protect you from other types of threats that put your home at risk.
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