Provisional IA

Provisional Initial Assessments

Beginning in 2020 and continuing through the 2025 fire season, a provisional mapping strategy was implemented for fires reported as greater than 40,000 acres in burned area or those considered particularly significant. These assessments, known as Provisional Initial Assessments (PIAs), utilized an initial assessment approach regardless of the vegetation type or density, if suitable imagery was available. For detailed information on methods and criteria, visit MTBS.gov.

Starting with the 2026 fire season, PIAs have been fully integrated into the MTBS program. For further details, please see the MTBS | Burn Severity Portal.

Timeline

Provisional Initial Assessment data became available approximately 3 to 6 weeks after fire containment

Data Access

Data Available

PIA data was available for fire seasons 2020 through 2025.

Audience

This product was developed for users who needed burn severity data for significant fires sooner than it could be released by the MTBS protocols. The MTBS program typically releases data 6 to 12 months after an event, whereas the provisional product enabled earlier access to assessments.

  • Use the Interactive Viewer to search for historical PIA fire maps or current MTBS fire maps that meet the previous PIA criteria.