North Dakota
North Dakota ranks 45th of 51 on the National Fireground Score, placing it in the lower tier nationally. Its composite of 43 sits 12 points below the national average of 54.6. The score is shaped most by thin readiness and funding. Notably, North Dakota is underperforming expectations: actual fire burden runs roughly 6 points above what its risk profile would predict — a signal worth investigating. Funding does not appear to match the fire risk this state carries. North Dakota ranks 44th in funding per capita and 9th in fire burden.
Generated from this state's sourced metrics. In production, the narrative is produced by the Fireground Analytics engine.
Score breakdown
Three sub-scores combine into the composite. Burden and Vulnerability are inverted so a higher composite always means a stronger position.
Composite = 0.40 × (100 − Burden) + 0.25 × (100 − Vulnerability) + 0.35 × Readiness. Burden and Vulnerability are inverted so that a higher composite always means a stronger position.
Expected vs. actual performance
Is this state doing better or worse than its risk profile predicts?
Actual fire burden is materially higher than its risk profile predicts.
Expected burden is modeled from North Dakota's vulnerability and demographic profile. A marker left of the band means fewer fire losses than conditions predict; right of the band means more. This is a benchmark signal, not a finding of cause. In production this model is the Fireground Analytics risk-adjusted engine.
Funding & the burden it has to match
Grants, per-capita funding, and tax revenue set against the fire burden this state actually carries.
Funding does not appear to match the fire risk this state carries.
Are we funding fire service at a level that matches our risk?
How it compares
Regional peers, similar-population states, and similar-vulnerability states — measured against the same benchmark.
Five-year trends
Is the state improving or declining — on score, burden, vulnerability, funding, and national rank?
Risers & fallers reflect movement in North Dakota's national position over the trailing five reporting years.
Key insights
Sharp, sourced takeaways a chief or council member could act on.
Rural population ranks 20th nationally (28 %) — a top differentiator for North Dakota.
Fire incidents per 1,000 residents ranks 48th of 51 (7.1 per 1k), the metric dragging hardest on the composite.
North Dakota carries a high fire burden (9th) but ranks only 44th in funding per capita — the central accountability question for its leaders.
Federal fire grant funding per capita sits in the 18th percentile — headroom to compete for AFG, SAFER, and mitigation dollars.
Actual burden exceeds expected by ~6 points; track whether response capacity or prevention is closing the gap year over year.
Every metric, every source
The complete sourced dataset behind this report card. Each figure links to its public origin.
| Metric | Value | State percentile | Nat. rank | Year | Source | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fire incidents per 1,000 residents | 7.1 per 1k | 92nd | 48th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Reported |
Fire deaths per 100k | 1.5 per 100k | 76th | 40th | 2024 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Reported |
Fire injuries per 100k | 8.8 per 100k | 72nd | 37th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Modeled estimate |
Fire property loss per capita | $117 | 68th | 36th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Reported |
Population in poverty | 15.7% | 58th | 31st | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Reported |
Population age 65+ | 16.6% | 46th | 24th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Reported |
Housing built before 1970 | 35% | 54th | 28th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Reported |
Rural population | 28% | 32nd | 20th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Reported |
Social vulnerability index | 0.52 | 54th | 28th | 2024 | Federal Emergency Management Agency | Modeled estimate |
Federal fire grant funding per capita | $9 | 18th | 42nd | 2024 | Federal Emergency Management Agency | Modeled estimate |
Fire protection expenditure per capita | $127 | 22nd | 40th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Modeled estimate |
Fire tax / special-district revenue per capita | $31 | 8th | 47th | 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Reported |
Firefighters per 1,000 residents | 2.2 per 1k | 22nd | 40th | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration; National Fire Protection Association | Reported |
NFIRS / NERIS reporting completeness | 99% | 92nd | 3rd | 2024 | U.S. Fire Administration | Reported |
Go deeper than the public scorecard
The National Fireground Scorecard shows where North Dakota stands. Fireground Analytics shows the counties, departments, and decisions behind it — and what to do next.
County, city, and department-level benchmarking beyond the state view.
Drill from the state score into the jurisdictions driving it.
Match AFG, SAFER, and mitigation opportunities to measured need.
Risk-adjusted forecasting from the Fireground Analytics engine.
Turn the benchmark into a plan your jurisdiction can act on.
Custom report cards and peer cohorts for your agency.
Sample data for demonstration only — not real rankings. See the methodology and sources. An initiative of Fireground Analytics.