Wildfire risk · Iowa
Wildfire risk in Iowa
Wildfire risk (USDA Forest Service) data for ZIP codes in Iowa. Pick a ZIP below to dive into the wildfire risk summary.
Last verified 2026-05-13 · methodology
What lands here
Pages translate the numeric hazard score into plain English, show the exposure type (direct flame contact vs. ember), and link to at-home mitigation resources.
Source & refresh
USDA Forest Service. Refreshed annual (usfs update). Primary source →
Iowa top concern
Radon Zone 1, agricultural water nitrates
Iowa is one of the highest-radon states in the US — uniformly Zone 1. Agricultural runoff drives EPA SDWIS nitrate violations in small rural systems and even Des Moines Water Works. Tornadoes peak April-June.
See Iowa state page for the full state-level rollup across all 12 dimensions.
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AQI explained — what 50, 100, 150 actually mean for your lungs
Plain-English guide to the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) and the 6 categories from Good to Hazardous. When to take precautions and which pollutants matter.
Wildfire Hazard Potential — what the USFS scale means and how to defend your home
Plain-English guide to the USDA Forest Service's Wildfire Hazard Potential 1–5 scale, how to read your community's risk, and concrete home-defense measures.
AirNow + wildfire smoke — when AQI is a real-time tool
How EPA AirNow handles real-time wildfire smoke, what the colors mean during fire season, and where AirNow leaves gaps you should know about.