Table 2 Vegetation fire-severity class descriptions, modified from National Park Service Fire Effects Monitoring Handbook (USDI National Park Service 2003).
Category | Visual description |
|---|---|
5 = Unburned | Not burned |
4 = Scorched | Foliage scorched |
3 = Lightly burned | Grasses with approximately two inches of stubble; foliage and smaller twigs of associated species partially to completely consumed; some plant parts may still be standing; bases of plants are not deeply burned and are still recognizable |
2 = Moderately burned | Unburned grass stubble usually less than two inches tall, and mostly confined to an outer ring; for other species, foliage completely consumed, plant bases are burned to ground level and obscured in ash immediately after burning; burns tend to be uniform |
1 = Heavily burned | No unburned grasses above the root crown; for other species, all plant parts consumed leaving some or no major stems or trunks, any left are deeply charred; this severity class is uncommon due to the short burnout time of grasses |