The fingerprinting technology is an effective method to quantify sediment sources in watershed. How to apply it to burned areas is still worth discussing. Based on the review of relevant literature, the mechanisms of forest fire aggravating soil erosion through vegetation, soil and ash was summarized. This paper introduced the case of applying fingerprinting technology to study the source of sediment in the fire basin. The content and property variations of fingerprint factors such as fallout radionuclides, mineral magnetics, physical indexes, geochemical elements and organic compounds in the burned area were analyzed emphatically. The applicability of various fingerprinting tracers in the study of sediment sources in burned areas was discussed. Additionally, some key investigation directions were provided, including the physical basis of fingerprinting technique, the spatio-temporal variation of burned soil properties, the stability verification of fingerprint tracers, the impact of burning ash, and the identification of large sediment particles. This review paper could provide a theoretical basis for promoting the research of the fingerprinting technique in burned areas, understanding the impact of forest fire on sediment yield patterns, and improving the effectiveness of water and soil conservation and ecological restoration in burned watershed.