The Hawksprey Burn

The Sierra Institute joined forces with the Pit River Tribe to implement specialized skills training through the Hawksprey Burn project. By using fire as a restorative tool, the partnership is revitalizing the landscape while honoring the spiritual and historical connection to the land.

Categories: Rural Community DevelopmentPublished On: February 24, 2026By Chelsea Aguilera

A Morning of Purpose in Ajumawi Ancestral Territory

The morning of January 24, 2026, was a crisp 50 degrees with 24 mph winds in Ajumawi Ancestral Territory for the Hawksprey Burn. Pink wind flags marked the staked-out burn field, and a test fire burned in a cleared-out corner where observers were safe to stand.

In the field, burn boss Virginia “Ginger” Amoroso led a crew of 20 High Roads Training Partnership (HRTP) Tribal trained crew members and support crews as they burned 150 acres of reclaimed agricultural lands in Fall River Mills, Shasta County, CA.

What is a “Test Fire”? Before committing to a large-scale burn, a small fire is lit in a controlled area. This allows the Burn Boss to observe fire behavior, smoke direction, and rate of spread to ensure the day’s weather conditions align with the safety plan.

Uncovering Heritage Through Cultural Burning

Agricultural equipment and cow tracks have long covered many of the traditional trails of this former summer camp land. Cultural burning, with knowledgeable cultural monitors on hand, offers an opportunity to uncover significant heritage sites and return beneficial fire to the landscape through the hands of the people who, prior to settler contact, maintained reciprocal relationships with this land and had a deep connection to fire.

A good burn chars the light, dry, top fuels and retains a green, healthy layer just atop the soil. Fire on this land signals a return to traditional stewardship and will reveal potential for future conservation use.

Defining “Cultural Burning” Unlike standard “prescribed burns” which focus primarily on fuel reduction, Cultural Burning is the intentional use of fire by Indigenous peoples to enhance the health of the land, promote the growth of traditional food and fiber materials, and maintain the spiritual connection to the territory.

A Partnership for Future Stewardship

This day of burning took many hands to bring to life. A co-partnered grant with California Department of Fish and Game, stewarded by the Pit River Tribe and Ajumawi band enabled the purchase of the Pope-Jensen property, which has been active farmland since the 1860s.

Now, the land will be used for conservation and stewarded by Pit River Tribal members. Sierra Institute is proud to support the Pit River Tribe in their stewardship goals by providing skills training that they can put to use in culturally aligned ways.