Despite the early morning rain and the cooler temperatures, the city of St. Catharines is maintaining its open-air burning ban.

The ban has been in place since Wednesday and will remain in effect until there's a "sustained siginficant rainfall", according to St. Catharines fire chief Mark Mehlenbacher.

The hot and dry weather prompted the ban. Open-air burning includes fire pits, fire bowls, chimineas and fireworks.  Open-air fires can spread to nearby grass and plants and burn out of control.

Barbecues are still permitted under the ban but the fire service is asking you to be cautious when cooking.

Disobeying the fire ban could result in charges and fines of up to $50,000.