Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
Prescribed fire at Oak Mountain State Park: What you need to know
Reading time: 2 minutes
If you see smoke rising from Oak Mountain State Park this week, don’t worry: the park is conducting an intentional prescribed fire at Alabama’s largest state park.
According to a Facebook post by park officials, the state is conducting the burn on either Wednesday, January 28, 2026, or Thursday, January 29, 2026, in multiple areas near the golf course, weather permitting.
Here’s why prescribed fires are important
Why are prescribed fires important to the health of a state park?
These intentionally set fires are regularly used to enhance fire-dependent ecosystems within Oak Mountain State Park and forestland across the state, and bring several benefits to the forest, including:
- Improving habitats
- Increasing plant biodiversity by encouraging new growth of native plant species
- Reducing invasive species
- Minimizing the spread of pest/insect disease
- Recycling nutrients back
Bham Now and our sister publication, The Bama Buzz, have written extensively on this topic over the years. Below are some of our stories about the importance of fire.
- Snap, crackle, pop! The Nature Conservancy bringing back Alabama’s longleaf pine forest with fire
- Did you know this rare Alabama forest is found nowhere else on earth?
- Seeing smoke from Oak Mountain State Park? It is a good sign
Can I still go to the park?
Now the big question about this week’s planned burn: can you still hike the trails and visit the park? The answer is a resounding yes! Park officials in their posts have assured us the trails are open.
Follow Bham Now on Instagram+ Facebook or sign up for our free newsletter to stay up to date on this and more happening in the Magic City!
