Posted: Tue, 31 May 2011 09:23 AM - 15,334 Readers

By: Jarrod Wise

While enjoying the Memorial Day weekend, many park-goers are obeying the rules when it comes to following the Travis County burn ban .

"People have been really careful about it. I've been reminding people to please be careful what they do with their cigarettes," said Sherrie MacAllister.

MacAllister helps run Windy Point Park , which is a privately owned park on Lake Travis.

"I can see everybody that comes by me here. I can see what they're bringing in," she said. "It's been really dry out here. If you are trying to grill anything on your own, be sure everything is extinguished thoroughly, because fires are set everywhere."

"We're out here grilling all sorts of meat and stuff," said John Swenson.

Even though it was a windy day, John Swenson was enjoying Windy Point Park with his friends. He spent the afternoon cooking sausages and chicken on his enclosed grill, which is legal during the burn ban.

"On a windy day, it's really important to have someone always around the fire. Make sure accidents don't happen or the pit doesn't fall over," he said.

During the Travis County burn ban, enclosed grills are allowed, but open grills or pits where flames are exposed are not. Nearby Bob Wentz Park on Lake Travis has a sign when you enter the park that specifically reads, "County Wide Burn Ban In Effect, No Fires."

The burn ban may have not prevented several fires along I-35 Monday afternoon. A rim from a blown out tire on a trailer being pulled by a truck caused sparks that blew into the dry grass of several areas along I-35 from William Cannon to Slaughter Lane. The Austin Fire Department was able to qucikly get them extinguished however, before they jumped the road and possibly affected the nearby businesses.

The Travis County burn ban is in effect until June 1st . If you're caught intentionally breaking the burn ban rules, you could be charged with a Class C Misdemeanor and be fined up to $500.