LinkedIn Shares 2Prescribed fire at Oak Mountain State Park on March 4, 2021. (The Nature Conservancy in Alabama)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. (Oak Mountain State Park / Facebook)Here’s why prescribed fires are importantPrescribed fire at Oak Mountain State Park on March 4, 2021. (Keith Tassin / The Nature Conservancy in Alabama)Why are prescribed fires important to the health of a state park? Park officials in their posts have assured us the trails are open.