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Original poster

To report neighbour for having a large open bonfire

64 replies

Squirrelsnut · 29/07/2026 16:08

I'm staying with family in a very rural area. It's extremely dry and warm, surrounded by tinder-dry fields and woods. The neighbour has lit a big bonfire in a smallish orchard area, quite close to our house! The fire is near the hedge and seems quite large.
Should I report it to the non-emergency number, or is that busybodiness?

OP posts:
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JohnofWessex · 30/07/2026 07:20

I suggest that the arrival of a fire engine, with sirens and lights followed by the blaze being extinguished gets a message over.

FireAdvice · 30/07/2026 06:14

Cla7 · 29/07/2026 16:46

Please don’t misuse emergency services for a neighbour dispute, your neighbour having a bonfire which you don’t like isn’t an emergency.

It absolutely is if you think the bonfire is dangerous. I have called 999 before due to my neighbour having a 9ft high bonfire very close to my hedge. They turned up blue lights, siren going and ran out with a hose and put it out. Which they will do if they believe it’s dangerous. If they think it’s safe, no potential to spread they will give advice and leave. But i wouldn’t hesitate to call 999 and let them make that decision.

I can promise people that when the fire spreads (as did eventually happen to my property) it’s devastating to get that phone call with someone screaming telling me my entire garden , outbuildings, office is on fire and the fire brigade aren’t there and that it looks like my house is going to go up.

if in doubt ring 999.

Sally2791 · 30/07/2026 05:57

Insane to have bonfires at the moment! Definitely report

Natsku · 30/07/2026 05:51

Glad it got sorted but it happens again definitely call to report it - its how forest fires start. In my country we get forest fire warnings when conditions are too dry and its absolutely prohibited to have any kind of open fire, even a disposable bonfire, and you will face legal consequences.

GreenWhiteViolets123 · 30/07/2026 01:34

Sereine · 29/07/2026 16:52

For all we know, they're taking every precaution and not being stupid at all.

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If he was taking "every precaution" he wouldnt have lit a fire at all. Not given how dry everywhere is atm. Lighting a bonfire atm (for any reason, regardless) is extremely irresponsible.

Coulddowithanap · 30/07/2026 00:32

I can't say for all fire services but the call handler on a daytime switchboard wouldn't have the same training as phoning the control room (999) who will advise if they would send an appliance or not. In this case I believe they would have gone out.

OrangeFlower14 · 30/07/2026 00:24

Coulddowithanap · 30/07/2026 00:19

Not a 24/7 non emergency number

No, but she posted in the middle of the day so that’s the suggestion I made

Coulddowithanap · 30/07/2026 00:19

Not a 24/7 non emergency number

OrangeFlower14 · 30/07/2026 00:15

Coulddowithanap · 30/07/2026 00:14

Do you realise you phone 999 for your local fire brigade!

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No, you don't (unless it's an emergency)

As I've said, every local fire brigade has a nonemergency number

If you don't believe me, look it up

Coulddowithanap · 30/07/2026 00:14

OrangeFlower14 · 29/07/2026 16:26

Call the local fire brigade

Don't call 999.

Do you realise you phone 999 for your local fire brigade!

B9waiting · 29/07/2026 23:51

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 29/07/2026 16:54

Is there a garden hose you can reach it with?
I'd be very tempted just to put it out myself, or at least wet the ground/growth between the fire and the property you're on.
Whilst also phoning the fire brigade to report and get advice.

I’d do this too. The mind truly boggles!

OrangeFlower14 · 29/07/2026 23:45

@JohnofWessex "I suggest that given the last few summers there need to be bonfire nans"

I volunteer as bonfire nan! Can I go in a helicopter?

JohnofWessex · 29/07/2026 23:18

Given the current situation I would be dialling 999 and let the Fire Brigade sort it out

GreenWhiteViolets123 · 29/07/2026 23:17

I would. It could easily be disastrous given how dry everything is at the moment.

JohnofWessex · 29/07/2026 23:11

I suggest that given the last few summers there need to be bonfire nans with a trip to court if you break them and legally enforced requirements to remove potentially hazardous material.

RampantIvy · 29/07/2026 23:03

Sereine · 29/07/2026 16:52

For all we know, they're taking every precaution and not being stupid at all.

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Don't you think it is stupid to have a bonfire in a tinder dry field? I have seen the drone footage, and it is clear that the person who started the fire is an idiot.

There has been loads of advice in the media about not having bonfires.

BMW58 · 29/07/2026 21:07

Report the fucker for a) lighting a bonfire and b) leaving it!!!!!

What a piece of shit.

BlueMum16 · 29/07/2026 21:01

DaisyGivemeyouranswer · 29/07/2026 16:59

We had a little fire in the garden a couple of weeks ago, we waited until 1130pm until it was a bit cooler, and we have a fire pit. 3 strapping fireman came in the back gate and scared the shit out of us - someone had called 999.

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Because it was 11.30. who lights fires at 11.30pm?

OrangeFlower14 · 29/07/2026 20:57

catspyjamas1 · 29/07/2026 20:47

What non-emergency number do plan to call? Is the neighbour a permenant resident that understands their area?

Every area has a nonemergency number for the fire brigade. You know like if you need them to check smoke alarms and stuff.

catspyjamas1 · 29/07/2026 20:48

Sereine · 29/07/2026 16:52

For all we know, they're taking every precaution and not being stupid at all.

Show quote history

Quite

catspyjamas1 · 29/07/2026 20:47

What non-emergency number do plan to call? Is the neighbour a permenant resident that understands their area?

Shatteredallthetimelately · 29/07/2026 19:09

Squirrelsnut · 29/07/2026 16:53

OK, so DH caught him as he was leaving the bonfire and getting into his car 🙄🙄 . He went back to put some water on it...
Baffling.

We once lived in a area that had allotments behind our house and the amount of people that would get a fire roaring then sod off home was unreal.

Didn't even hang around to get a lung full of stench, just left it for those that lived there to put up with.

As a group we'd go and pile their freshly dug soil ontop of it to put it out.

Shatteredallthetimelately · 29/07/2026 19:03

Squirrelsnut · 29/07/2026 16:18

..but she's worried about antagonising the neighbour.

You're never going to be able to have a reasonable conversation with someone that thinks it's acceptable to put a match to any kind of material outside in this dry weather.
You really can't reason with the stupid.

It really is a shame that we've had to become so worried about upsetting those that are such inconsiderate arseholes and that said arseholes would never even consider themselves to be in the wrong.

IronEverything · 29/07/2026 18:20

Cla7 · 29/07/2026 16:46

Please don’t misuse emergency services for a neighbour dispute, your neighbour having a bonfire which you don’t like isn’t an emergency.

It's not misusing emergency services at all and this type of comment puts people in danger by being scared to call. You do realise that there is a person on the end of the phone who you speak to that makes a decision about whether or not they need to send services out?

tipsyraven · 29/07/2026 18:19

Some neighbours of mine once had a large bonfire close to the fence. I called 999 and the police came round and told them to put it out. It wasn’t even in a drought and the risk for fire at them moment is so high.