This dataset presents aggregated historic fire severity classification from 1998 onward for wildfires. It currently has all of the fire sev classification done from FIRE_SEV98 to FIRE_SEV09 as well as Grampians victoria valley complex 2013 and Grampians northern complex 2014 (additional years of severity mapping will be added to this dataset as they become available). Datasets has been reclassified using the Level 2 Classification described in the Post fire Burn Classification Procedure SOP v.1.0 (FEMD, 2014).
Severities for fires after 2014 have been added as fire severity mapping occurs. There severities most often use Level 3 Classification.
Aggregating the old (more detailed) historic severity classes into the current broad level 2 classes is a more conservative approach than aggregating them into the current level 3 classes. . The reason for this approach is that the percentages for the degree of crown scorch do not line-up closely enough to directly transfer the old classes into the new level 3 classes. In all of the classification work documented above, canopy burn remains the highest severity level, canopy scorch is divided up in the levels below this depending on a description or percentage range.
In this coverage the most resent (last burnt) severity mapping is displayed, however, where an area has had previous fire events they can be mapped out (interrogated) by using definition query or attribute query or other GIS techniques.
Severity classification of non-forest areas:
In 2003 (Alpine fire), 2005 (Wilson's Promontory Fire), 2006 (Grampians Ballarat and Moondarra fires), 2007 (Little Desert and Boulder Creek fires) 2009 (Kilmore - Murindindi fires) polygons have been reclassified to the following classes:
Burnt = High Severity
Scorched and Burnt = High Severity
Partially Burnt = Medium Severity
Scorched and Unburnt = Low Severity
Unburnt = Unburnt
Unclassified = Unclassified