Seeing smoke from Oak Mountain State Park? It is a good sign

2 months ago 6

If you see smoke coming from Oak Mountain State Park, especially when you travel on I-65, don’t worry—our beloved park is not in danger. In fact, it is a good sign.

Beginning on Tuesday, December 3rd—weather permitting—Alabama’s largest State Park will conduct prescribed fires near the Interpretive Center and Alabama Wildlife Center.

The park will remain open, but the Foothills – Yellow Trail will be closed to the public.

Prescribed fire is good for Oak Mountain State Park

According to an Instagram post by the State Park, prescribed fires are an essential land management tool for the park’s many fire-dependent ecosystems.

This week’s activities will accomplish the following:

Improve habitats
Increase plant biodiversity by encouraging new growth of native plant species
Reduce invasive species
Minimize the spread of pest/insect disease
Recycle nutrients back

“Alabama’s native Longleaf pine ecosystems evolved to thrive with frequent fire caused by the thunderstorms that pass over Alabama every year.

As we have developed the landscape, we have limited the naturally occurring fire.

Now it’s important that we use prescribed fire to maintain the health of the ecosystem and reduce the risk of harmful wildfires.”

Mitch Reid, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Alabama

Prescribed fire is regularly conducted at Oak Mountain State Park.

For example, in 2021, Bham Now reported on a 300-acre prescribed fire within the park’s boundaries conducted by the Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama State Parks and The Nature Conservancy in Alabama (TNC).

Have you seen smoke coming from a prescribed fire in Oak Mountain State Park? On Bham Now’s Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages, tell us your first reaction.

Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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