Fire severity is a metric of the loss of biomass caused by fire. In collaboration with the NSW Rural Fire Service, DPE Remote Sensing & Regulatory Mapping team has developed a semi-automated approach to mapping fire extent and severity through a machine learning framework based on satellite imagery.

The method uses standardised classes to allow comparison of different fires across the landscape. The FESM severity classes include: unburnt, low severity (burnt understory, unburnt canopy), moderate severity (partial canopy scorch), high severity (complete canopy scorch, partial canopy consumption), extreme (full canopy consumption).

Here we provide historical severity mapping for the Pilliga region from 1989/90 to 2015/16, which is based on Landsat satellite imagery. From 2016/17 to the current fire year, this region is covered in the statewide FESM data, which is based on Sentinel 2 satellite imagery.