Massachusetts wildfire risk
Middlesex County has the highest wildfire risk in Massachusetts, scoring 72.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex County | 72.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 2 | Worcester County | 62.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 3 | Essex County | 59.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 4 | Plymouth County | 53.8 | Very Low | 0 |
| 5 | Barnstable County | 53.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 6 | Norfolk County | 49.8 | Very Low | 0 |
| 7 | Hampden County | 39.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 8 | Bristol County | 38.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 9 | Franklin County | 37 | Very Low | 0 |
| 10 | Hampshire County | 35.8 | Very Low | 0 |
| 11 | Dukes County | 27.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Berkshire County | 25.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Nantucket County | 13 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Suffolk County | 9 | 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 Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest wildfire risk county in Massachusetts?
Middlesex County, MA has the highest wildfire risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 72.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes wildfire risk in Massachusetts?
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.