On Wednesday, October 29, the Briceland Fuels Crew joined Cultural Fire practitioners from Native Health in Native Hands and Hybrid Indigenous Stewardship to burn dozens of piles at the Southern Humboldt Community Park. They were supported by members of the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association and the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District.
It was ideal weather to burn this cured and dried material under the beautiful stands of oak and pepperwood trees. After burning down, the ash from the piles was gently hand tilled into the moist soil interspersed with small chunks of carbon to provide essential nutrients and material to the soil.
This work is part of an ongoing effort to restore N’shong Konk’—Good Fire—to the region, reviving traditional fire practices that help rebalance local ecosystems. The project reflects a broad collaboration among Wailaki community members, Cultural Fire practitioners, landowners like those at the Community Park, volunteer fire departments, fire professionals, and county and state partners. Funding from various ecological restoration and workforce development grants helps make this collective effort possible.