If you notice smoke in the sky over southeast Foley on Wednesday, the Graham Creek Nature Preserve will be conducting a prescribed burn. The Graham Creek Nature Preserve will conduct a prescribed (controlled) fire Wednesday, May 21, at the preserve in southeast Foley.

Preserve officials are conducting the burn in partnership with the Alabama Forestry Commission. The fire is a carefully planned part of the preserve’s ongoing habitat restoration and wildlife prevention efforts.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has issued a burn ban that is in effect. The  prescribed fire at Graham Creek has been authorized and is being professionally supervised and conducted under strict safety protocols.

Prescribed fire is a vital tool for keeping forests healthy and safe. While the burn at Graham Creek has been  authorized, the overall ban is still in effect and open burning by the general public is not allowed. Fires can be dangerous under current conditions.