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?

I have built a bonfire in my garden.

I thought that is what you did on bonfire night.

I hope everyone is safe and fires aren’t too big or close but I’m not seeing the problem with the essential principle of having a bonfire on bonfire night?

Seems they are allowed so long as not a nuisance

Is that the actual phrase the council used? Because if so "nuisance" is rather subjective isn't it. Did they mention specifics such as flame height, distance from properties, or smoke?

FFS
I was about to say I hope the poster who thinks it's okay has learned something and now Purple is asking as well

It's all very subjective, just says should not be intrusive or dangerous to people or property, no specifics.

Me neither Purple - but safety and distance are definitely key, and I think people do underestimate the distance they should leave and the risk of tall bonfires collapsing.

If it's not a smoke free zone, not otherwise banned and it's small enough and you have water etc on hand it doesn't seem like a problem to have one in principle. This bonfire is clearly none of those things!

I’ve read the thread, don’t worry. I can obviously see specific fires causing problems or danger to surroundings are not a good idea, like the problem with the OP.

But I’m not seeing why the fact of a bonfire on bonfire night is a bad thing.

Is he burning only wood or has he piled all sorts of other crap on it too - like furniture, plastic etc?
If he has then you need to mention that specifically when you report to the relevant authorities, as plastics/furniture/leather/metals will give off different types of toxic fumes depending on their chemical make-up.

I still remember some nut jobs trying to burn a sofa and inside doors once when i was a kid (non Bonfire Night related) and the smoke and smell left us struggling to breathe.

Hope it goes ok for you. I can remember my neighbours hedge when I was a child going up in flames due to an ill placed bonfire. The speed in which it travelled up towards the house was so so scary.

What is the fire standing on, e.g. grass/patio? We once stupidly made a fire (quite small though and about 50ft down the garden) on the concrete base of an old greenhouse and it got so hot that the concrete exploded and left a big crater!

PurpleTraitor The thread isnt about bonfires on bonfire night. Its about placing a bonfire 10 feet from your neighbours house and putting plastic on it.

Fire serve advice I say that they shouldn't be close to houses. Same for fireworks.

Sadly, you pointing out that a bonfire isn't woefully unsafe probably won't have much of an effect as they're foolish enough to make one.

I wouldn't go round because if they don't listen (which they probably won't) and you have to call the fire brigade or council the. They'll know it's you. I'd call up the non emergency number and ask for advice and explain your concerns about proximity to fences and properties.

Unfortunately, you won't know for sure if its intrusive or dangerous until it is lit - which way the smoke blows, how noxious (with the furniture).

You've done the right thing. Don't envy you, bet your going to be on pins all night now. At least you've got plenty of evidence of contacting the appropriate authorities and if it does do any damage, claim off the frigger. In fact, when its lit if it looks like its getting obscene, I'd go round and say you hope he has good third party insurance.

Because having bonfires so close is dangerous?
There was a fire in a garden a few months back and i had to close all the windows as it set my asthma off. I was not happy. I'd certainly be pissed if a neighbour was burning furniture

It would be a terrible shame if you'd bought a new hose and when trying it out had accidentally sprayed a load of water over the fence and soaked their unlit bonfire. Hoses can be so tricky to handle.

Windows are shut, cats are in. Hose on standby.

Its not lit yet.

Good luck OP. Keep us posted!

Op if I was you, I would do as a pp has suggested and hose down my fence. At least that may buy you a bit more time if you need to call the fire brigade if things do get out of hand.

Years ago many people had bonfires and fireworks in their own gardens. I don't know when that stopped happening. I have never heard as much fuss about them as I have on this thread.

Years ago many people had bonfires and fireworks in their own gardens. I don't know when that stopped happening. I have never heard as much fuss about them as I have on this thread
Years ago people didn't wear helmets and we didn't have seatbelts in cars, people smoked in enclosed spaces with children.

I wouldn't be happy with my neighbours having a bonfire as our gardens are too close together.

I'd agree - damp your side of the fence as a precaution - they know you are unhappy, and may feel it is OTT, but it would reduce the chance of damage on your side, and if the fence did catch, slow flame progress while you are making a 999 call, so the bonfire can be totally drenched and neighbour given verbal reprimand.

Is this a semi-detached where this neighbour's home joins yours?

Just that it seems that while the guy is a fool, he did move the bonfire. If it ends up needing Fire Brigade, you did what you could to explain your qualms and they might not be complete dumbfucks in future... having had his daft idea completely trumped (if FB is actually needed).

You are taking the risk seriously. He has compromised a little. If it still goes wrong, he will be feeling a complete twat (and if FB are needed, will probably be warned not to do it again).

On the one hand, I really hope the FB not needed (for your sake) but on the other, if they are needed, he will feel such a dumbfuck, he will probably take note if given friendly advice in future (and hopefully some consultation will go on if there are ever any plans for an extension, etc, rather than blunder into it and then have you object on really sensible grounds, and have council take your side)...

Best of luck.

PS My cat just decided she wanted to come in (she is usually an outdoorsy madam unless there is a gale blowing) but a few noisy fireworks and food and warmth tempted her.

Yesterday night a local(ish) scrapyard had 12 cars burn and gas containers exploding...

I only noticed there had been something happen when my local transport app showed the trains were cancelled for 3 hours (I don't bother with Twitter or FB), and the bangs, even if audible here, between 7pm and 10pm, would be lost in the assorted whistles and bangs from fireworks closer to me.

Hope everything is ok OP.

What size is it OP?

Ah sorry, I see it's 5 foot tall.

I don't think people did have fireworks in their own gardens ' years ago' That's a relatively new fangled thing. You used to go to a big community bonfire and watch a display. You didn't used to be able to pop to Tesco and buy some fireworks. Sparklers were about it.