When you see smoke rising and flames emanating from Gulf State Park next week, know this: this fire is good.

A prescribed burn, originally planned at the park Aug. 15-23 but delayed due to imperfect weather conditions, as part of a forest management plan associated with wildfire fuel reduction, wildlife habitat restoration and invasive species control, will take place next to the park's campground. Trails near the burn location will be closed, and camping reservations are not being accepted for campsites 122-195, 199-316 and 317-468 during the burn period.

It is set to now start Aug. 20.

"Luckily, we don’t need two weeks to complete our prescribed burn, just one perfect day with the right fire weather. We are working closely with the Alabama Forestry Commission to meticulously plan while we wait for the ideal conditions for a safe and effective burn," said a social media post from the state park.

The decision to delay the burn was made based on "careful consideration of the current weather and various environmental factors."

According to Joel Bartlett, forestry specialist supervisor in Marion County for the Alabama Forestry Commission, weather factors that impacted the delay included the direction of the winds; current local drought conditions, which is measured by The Keetch–Byram Drought Index; and the lack of measurable rain within the past two weeks.

"AFC and Gulf State Park officials will be carefully monitoring these weather conditions and will decide to burn later in the burn window at the end of next week," Bartlett said. "Safety measures such as these are crucial to minimize potential risks and ensure that the burn benefits the ecosystem without causing unintended harm.”

Prescribed burns are "especially important in the south Alabama coastal region due to the vegetation type and a longer growing season," according to Outdoor Alabama, a newsletter from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Gulf State Park has been using prescribed fires as a management tool for more than 20 years. It is an ancient practice, notably used by Native Americans for crop management, insect and pest control, and hunting habitat improvement, among other purposes.

The practice continues today under the direction of forest and land managers who understand the appropriate weather conditions, fuel loads and atmospheric conditions for conducting such burns. These carefully applied fires are an important tool to keep the approximately 23 million acres of forested land in Alabama healthy and productive.

"While prescribed burning cannot stop all wildfires, it is the best management tool available for preventing larger and more frequent outbreaks," according to Alabama Forestry Commission Forest Protection Chief John Goff. "Prescribed burning is not only the most effective, economical protection against wildfires because it reduces accumulated fuels, but it is also a key tool in managing and maintaining the ecological integrity of Alabama's woodlands, grasslands and wildlife habitat."

This burn will be conducted in partnership between the Alabama Forestry Commission, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and ADCNR's State Parks Division. Due to the location of the burn area and time of year, additional personnel will be on site to ensure safety and proper smoke management during the burn.

According to Goff, prescribed burning is conducted on approximately one million acres in Alabama every year — most of them on private land — but that number represents only a quarter of the acreage that should be burned annually.

"Every prescribed burn accomplishes multiple benefits," Goff said. "Most of the woodlands in Alabama are adapted to fire and are burned regularly, historically speaking."