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In fire-dominated ecosystems, intensity of the pyric disturbance is an important aspect in studies on the impact of fire on ecosystem properties. In programmed burns, intensity measurements are possible, however costly or difficult. On the contrary, after a wild fire there is currently no reliable method for determining this. We propase and evaluate a simple method for estimating CiTe intensity following a fire. This method was tested in California chaparral but should be applicable to other shrublands. The technique is based on correlating estimates of CiTe intensity with the mínimum diameter of the branches that remain after the rife. Minimum branch diameter measurements were taken on the post-CiTe remaining branches of Adenostoma fasciculatum, the species most abundant and widespread in California chaparral. As a measure of rife intensity we used the amount of water evaporated during fue fire from cans set out in 1 x 1 m test plots. This estimate of rife intensity was very highly correlated with maximum surface temperatures recorded during the burn. The coefficient of determination of the regression of mean mínimum branch diameter on OUT estimate of fire intensity was 0.68 for the 1 x 1 m scale, and 0.90 for a larger 5 x 5 m scale. The method is quick, reliable and can be performed several months after the burn. The two scales of resolution of rife intensity tested make this method suitable for most studies on the effects of CiTe intensity on soil and vegetation properties.