My neighbour has built a bonfire in the garden

[Alexindisguise]

Presumably to be lit tonight. It's big, about 10ft away from the back of our semi detached houses.

Aibu to be alarmed and think no one in their right mind would do this?

They've only lived here a few weeks, so don't know them at all.

Other than be on standby with a hose pipe tonight, anything we can do?

It's very windy where I live, if your area is windy that increases the danger.

Hoses at the ready!!!

Also what type of furniture? If it's like sofa stuff that's going to be really rank when it burns.

Yeah I reckon 101 might be able to advise. Not a 999 issue of course. But the police often have links with the fire brigade so might have a way of contacting them or may have their own officers to have a look?

I remember a thread like this a few years ago and the fire brigade came and dismantled the fire and gave the property owners a warning.

Not surprised by your latest update op. I remember my next door neighbour burning mattresses in their garden on sunny day about 15 years ago.

Black smoke poured over the fence, my dad went round to have a word. The lovely chavvy woman, with a fag hanging out of her mouth and a beer bottle in hand, very kindly told him to fuck off and mind his own fucking business.

Selfish people have no understanding on how their actions affect other people. I hope it all goes ok for you though!

I really don't understand why garden bonfires are allowed. At best they're polluting and anti-social, at worst a very dangerous fire risk.

I'd prefer people to either pay for a garden waste collection or take rubbish to the tip.

It's crazy.

I actually would have my hose ready in these circumstances, if it gets out of control the damage will be done long before the fire brigade can get there. Bet the arsehole doesn't even bother checking for wildlife either.

Our Environmental Health nuisance team deal with bonfire complaints. It might be worth you calling your out of hours council team for advice.

Once the fire is lit, BTW, you could then call 999 if you think it's a threat to your property, but obviously it would be better for this to be sorted before it becomes an imminent emergency!

I haven't got bucketloads of common sense tbh but even I know that a bonfire 10ft away from a property is a recipe for disaster. Good grief. Call the council/fire guys for advice.

That's awful. I had a problem neibour repeatedly burning rubbish, in the end I went to the environmental heath officer at the council. It caused ructions but a few years on we don't have the same issues. People can be such selfish twats. As for the "I've got lots of garden waste to burn" arguments - go to the recycling centre!...oh yes I forgot you're lazy as well as obnoxious.

Oh well that's all right then if neighbour doesn't see the problem.

Get other neighbours together and do a group visit to express your concerns?

10 FEET! If they light it, get your family/pets out of the house and phone 999

Can you hose down his pile of bonfire material now? Let HIM call the police ... if it's as close to the houses as you say and as big as you say, they might set him straight?

Hose at the ready. And make sure your building and contents insurance is up to date.

I'd hose it down now. Make it nice and wet so it's bastard to light it.

You folk in England haven’t got a clue when it comes to bonfires. If it’s not bigger than your house and situated immediately outside the doorstep it’s not worth the matches. This is how they do things in Belfast.

I've seen picture of that before Evelyn. It must be terrifying living in one of those houses.

When I got home last night around 9.30pm next door had a bonfire lit. It wasn’t a danger to anyone except them because they are end of terrace with quite a big bit of garden at the side of their house. But the smoke blowing all across the road was very antisocial and I said to my dp I’m glad the wind is blowing in the opposite direction to our house! The poor sods across the road though

No one 'needs ' to burn anything. Every so often my -weird-- NDN burns garden waste in an incinerator next to my washing line. It stinks to high heaven, makes me wheeze and my eyes itch and it seeps inside our house. He hasn't done it so much since I popped my head over the fence to moan. My other neighbours have eventually moved their BBQ from the other bit of the fence that overlooked my clothes line. I find it interesting how everyone positions everything so they get the least smoke in their own gardens!!

Our council provides garden waste bins and their website states all sorts of reasons why they don't want people to burn garden waste.

Not very helpful to you, OP, but am responding to those who say they 'need' to burn things.

When I was a kid all the kids would spend the week collecting everyone's rubbish people had left out for them and build a huge bonfire. People would also have smaller ones in their garden

Obviously due to health and safety they have stopped them. No one has fires on my estate anymore and if they do the firebrigade put them out. If it's council I would guess you might be in breech of your tenancy, not too sure

If I was you I’d starting hosing down your adjoining fence now

Least if the fence is wet/damp it’ll be harder to catch when the idiots start it up

No wonder, one of the houses in that street was up for sale. I wouldnt wanna live near that.

This is all well and good for those who have a garden tap in their home! I don't - I'd be filling buckets with water and trying to slosh them over a fence tat's higher than I am.

We too had bonfires when I was a kid but if I was having one I'd be wanting to be very careful about wooden fences especially but also smoke and blowback of ashes and sparks. Plus just the same as for any fireworks that are going to be lit, you (ie they!) should have buckets of water/hose at the ready anyway - I bet these neighbours haven't done any safety preparation at all.

Our fire service has a Facebook page - might that be a way to get in touch with your regional crews OP??

I would be ringing 101 and reporting it.

Next I’d get the hose ready and as soon as he goes inside i would be drenching the whole thing.