There's going to be a big fire at Alabama's largest state park, but it's all part of a plan.
Officials say they will ignite at least 130 acres at Oak Mountain State Park south of Birmingham on Thursday. It's a controlled burn meant to help promote the growth of longleaf pine trees in two areas.
Park officials conduct such burns regularly to get rid of smaller plants that compete with the pines.
Workers will burn about 130 acres of land near the park's campground, and later another 170 acres near a fishing lake.
Firefighters will be on hand as a precaution.
The burn was originally scheduled for last month but had to be postponed because of the weather.
Oak Mountain is Alabama's biggest state park with almost 10,000 acres.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.