Maryland wildfire risk
Somerset County has the highest wildfire risk in Maryland, scoring 85.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset County | 85.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 2 | Dorchester County | 83.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 3 | Wicomico County | 80.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Talbot County | 71.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Worcester County | 65.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Caroline County | 63.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Queen Anne's County | 59.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 8 | St. Mary's County | 59 | Very Low | 0 |
| 9 | Calvert County | 52.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 10 | Prince George's County | 42.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 11 | Baltimore County | 39.5 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Washington County | 38.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Anne Arundel County | 35.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Garrett County | 31.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 15 | Frederick County | 27.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 16 | Kent County | 25.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 17 | Cecil County | 25.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 18 | Montgomery County | 25.1 | Very Low | 0 |
| 19 | Baltimore | 24 | Very Low | 0 |
| 20 | Allegany County | 21 | Very Low | 0 |
| 21 | Charles County | 19.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 22 | Harford County | 19 | Very Low | 0 |
| 23 | Howard County | 15.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 24 | Carroll County | 14 | Very Low | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Wildfire risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Maryland:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest wildfire risk county in Maryland?
Somerset County, MD has the highest wildfire risk in Maryland, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes wildfire risk in Maryland?
Wildfire risk reflects expected annual losses to buildings, population, and agriculture from wildfire, adjusted for social vulnerability and community resilience. High scores cluster in the western US, where dry climate, fuel loads, and seasonal wind patterns combine with rapid suburban development into fire-prone terrain.