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MARK TWAIN LAKE -- For the first time since July 2, campers at Mark Twain Lake can enjoy an actual campfire.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lifted its two-month burn ban on Monday.

While campers may have missed out on roasting marshmallows and gazing into the flames, they were patient with the Corp's policy.

"People totally understood it was for their safety," Park Ranger Mary Heitmeyer said.

That said, rangers don't want visitors to get carried away with their blazes. 

"We only recorded two inches of rain at the dam over the weekend," Heitmeyer said.  "It's still dry."

The Corp asks that campers keep their fires small and well contained within the designated grates.

Ironically, the dry, hot weather kept many tent campers at home for the hot summer months, but the rain that fell over the popular Labor Day weekend kept some visitors away. Typically the campgrounds at Mark Twain Lake are full over the holiday weekend. This year, they were only 75-percent occupied.