‘Fast fires’ were just 2.7% of U.S. wildfires but destroyed 78% of the structures lost — and up to 449,000 could be lost by 2060

The findings highlight how a small share of blazes drives most property damage, with roughly one-third of western neighborhoods facing the greatest future risk being low-income communities. The concentration of losses in fast fires matters for insurers, homeowners and regulators assessing wildfire exposure. Watch for how insurers and policymakers use the data to reassess risk models and mitigation priorities in the West.