Wildfire Risk in ZIP 87544
Los Alamos, Los Alamos County, New Mexico — a high-risk ZIP scored from USFS, FEMA, USGS and NIFC federal data.
Risk Score
40/100
High Risk
Wildfire hazard in 87544
ZIP 87544 (Los Alamos) is rated High risk (40/100) — the USFS rates the risk to structures here as Low, and FEMA rates it Not available. Risk varies block to block, so your exact address determines your true score.
Check your exact address →Fire history near 87544
14 federally recorded wildfires (2000–2024) within 25 miles. Closest: Cerro Grande (2000), 2.4 mi away. Tap any fire for quick facts.
Where this score falls
This score plotted on the full wildfire-risk scale.
Risk varies block to block in Los Alamos (87544)
This score is for the area. Your street, slope, and defensible space change it a lot — check your exact address for a free, instant home-level score, map, and report.
What Los Alamos (87544) wildfire risk means for your insurance
Total potential savings
$4,594/yr
Across 10 programs you may qualify for
$1,094recurring/yr
$17,500one-time grants
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ Discount
5–25% premium reductionThe gold standard for wildfire home ratings. Major carriers (State Farm, Farmers, Nationwide, Allstate) offer 5–25% discounts for IBHS certification. A third-party inspector grades your home on five systems: roof, vent, deck, wall, and window glazing. Half-day inspection, long-lasting payoff.
✓ WUI homeowners nationwide — confirm discount with your carrier before scheduling inspection
Firewise USA Community Discount
5–15% premium reductionResidents of NFPA-recognized Firewise USA communities qualify for discounts from State Farm, Farmers, and many regional carriers. Over 1,600 communities are recognized nationwide. Check firewise.org/find-a-firewise-community to see if yours qualifies.
✓ Residents of officially recognized Firewise USA communities — verify with your carrier
Documented Defensible Space Discount
5–12% premium reductionMost WUI carriers offer standalone discounts for documented Zone 1, 2 & 3 clearance — no full IBHS cert required. Submit dated before/after photos plus a contractor invoice or county assessment letter to your agent.
✓ Contact your carrier — requires written documentation of Zone 1 (0–5ft), Zone 2 (5–30ft), and Zone 3 (30–100ft) clearance
Class A Fire-Rated Roofing Discount
3–8% premium reductionMetal, concrete tile, or Class A composition shingles eliminate ember ignition from above and qualify for carrier discounts in all wildfire states. Provide your carrier a letter from the roofing contractor confirming the UL Class A rating.
✓ New or recently replaced roofs — ask your carrier for their fire-rating documentation requirements
Home Hardening & Fire-Resistant Materials Discount
3–12% premium reductionDocumenting fire-resistant upgrades — fiber cement siding, metal gutters, dual-pane tempered windows, enclosed eaves, and 1/16" ember-resistant vents — can qualify for additional carrier discounts. Bundle with defensible space docs for maximum combined discount.
✓ Ask your carrier for their home hardening checklist and documentation requirements
Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Act Recovery Funds
Up to $125,000 (survivors)The Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act (2022) provides federal compensation and recovery funds for NM landowners affected by these 2022 fires — the largest in NM history. Funds cover property losses, mitigation, and rebuilding to fire-resistant standards.
✓ NM landowners affected by 2022 Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fires — fema.gov/hermits-peak
USDA NRCS EQIP Fuels Reduction Grant
Up to $150,000 (agricultural)USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service pays 50–75% of wildfire-related conservation work (prescribed burns, thinning, silvopasture) on rural/agricultural land through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Application windows open annually in fall at local NRCS service centers.
✓ Agricultural producers and rural landowners — find your office at nrcs.usda.gov
NM EMNRD Forestry Division Cost-Share Grant
Up to $5,000 (50% match)New Mexico EMNRD Forestry reimburses 50% of defensible space and fuels reduction costs. High-priority communities include Santa Fe, Taos, Ruidoso, Silver City, and communities in the Jemez Mountains. Apply at emnrd.nm.gov/forestry.
✓ NM private landowners in designated WUI areas — emnrd.nm.gov/forestry
NM Forest & Watershed Health Program
Up to $4,000 (project-based)EMNRD funds mechanical and prescribed fire treatments on private forestland in northern NM. Priority areas are Rio Grande and Jemez Mountain watersheds. Post-Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fire, federal supplemental funding is available through the Hermit's Peak Recovery Act.
✓ Northern NM private forestland owners — contact your local EMNRD district forester
USDA Forest Service State Fire Assistance
Varies (state forestry passthrough)USDA Forest Service allocates State Fire Assistance (SFA) grants to every state forestry agency, which then distributes them as cost-share programs and grants to private landowners. This is the funding backbone for most state-level wildfire programs listed below.
✓ Apply through your state's forestry agency — universally available in all 50 states
Savings are estimates. Verify current amounts with your insurance carrier, CSFS district office, or tax professional before committing to work.
What wildfire risk does to this home's value
Beyond premiums, wildfire risk is capitalized into market value — buyers pay less for homes that cost more to insure and carry a disclosed hazard. Adjust the value below to estimate the impact on a high-risk home.
Estimated value impact
−$7K to −$13K
roughly 2.0%–4.0% of value
The durable effect of a standing high-risk designation — not the larger, temporary drop right after a nearby fire, which typically recovers in 1–3 years.
Insurance carrying cost
~$404/yr
Estimated added wildfire premium. Capitalized at a 7% rate, that recurring cost alone reduces value by about $5,771 — the mechanism behind much of the discount.
Market & disclosure discount
2.0%–4.0%
Peer-reviewed CA data finds homes with a disclosed wildfire hazard sell for ~4–6% less; Redfin finds high-risk ZIPs now trade at a discount after years of slower appreciation.
Estimate, not an appraisal. Modeled from your risk tier and an adjustable home value, using insurance-cost capitalization and published wildfire price-discount research (Land Economics 2024 / RFF; GAO-26-107867; Redfin; Eastman-Kim 2024). Individual homes vary with hardening, views, and local demand. Methodology & sources on the methodology page.
High risk — and your insurer already knows it.
Industry reporting describes steep premium increases for high-risk homes in recent years. One renewal cycle without action and you may be shopping the non-standard market.
What happens if you wait
High-risk homeowners have faced steep rate increases in recent years. Non-standard market policies — when you can find them — often cost substantially more.
Insurers have filed hundreds of thousands of non-renewals in fire-risk areas in recent years. Notices typically arrive ~60 days before expiration.
IBHS-certified homes may qualify for premium reductions with participating carriers. Discounts vary by carrier, state, and property.
Research suggests homes with elevated fire risk can sell below comparable homes, as buyers price in insurance cost. Individual results vary.
High risk doesn’t mean uninsurable.
We compare wildfire-specialist carriers licensed in New Mexico — including ones that still write high-risk homes — to find who covers you and what they charge. Free, no obligation.
$1,094/yr — typical savings when New Mexico homeowners compare carriers.
“My insurer didn’t renew me after 11 years. FireRisk matched me with two carriers that same week — saving $2,100 a year now.”
Sarah K. · Boulder, CO · previously High Risk
3
free quotes, by email
24 hrs
typical turnaround
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Lower your wildfire risk in Los Alamos (87544)
Get a certified fire mitigation contractor in Los Alamos County
We connect you with vetted, locally-licensed crews who do the physical work that lowers your risk score — and document it so your insurer and New Mexico's grant programs recognize it.
What your contractor handles
On-site evaluation of all three zones, documented to insurer and state standards.
Ladder-fuel removal, tree limbing, and brush clearing by trained crews.
Ember-resistant vents, gutter guards, and Zone 1 non-combustible retrofits.
Documentation that unlocks carrier discounts and state grant reimbursements.
Book a free defensible space assessment
Most certified contractors assess at no cost. The visit documents your property to the standard insurers require — and 1 of your recommended actions qualify for New Mexico grant or rebate funding.
$0
assessment
✓ Licensed & insured crews
✓ Serving Los Alamos County
✓ No obligation
Defensible space & home hardening →
The specific work that measurably lowers your score — with the grants and tax credits that pay for it.
Is there a fire near Los Alamos (87544) right now?
The map above shows active fires from NIFC. For live evacuation alerts, smoke, and incident updates, these official sources are the fastest:
ZIP 87544 wildfire FAQ
Is ZIP code 87544 in a high wildfire risk area?
ZIP 87544 (Los Alamos, NM) carries a High wildfire risk rating (40/100) based on USFS Wildfire Risk to Communities, FEMA, terrain, and recorded fire history. Risk varies street to street — check your exact address for a precise score.
How do I check the fire risk for a specific address in 87544?
Enter the street address into FireRisk.ai for a free instant report — your exact 0–100 score, a defensible-space map, nearby fire history, and your insurance and mitigation options.
Does ZIP 87544 affect home insurance?
Yes — insurers price Los Alamos-area policies off this federal hazard data, and high-risk ZIPs have seen premium increases and non-renewals. Documenting defensible space and home hardening can unlock discounts and help keep coverage.
Other New Mexico ZIP codes
Know your home's exact wildfire risk
Street-level risk in ZIP 87544 varies enormously. Get your address's precise score, defensible-space map, and insurance options — free, in 30 seconds.
Check your address →