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 think that bonfire is a lot more than 10ft away

In the 70s we took the fence down between neighbours' houses and built a big street party type community bonfire. We all had sparklers.

Looking back... how bloody terrifying!

Ha I know its not out of control, I was just posting pics as requested earlier. I think all my estimated measurements of height and distance were spot on.

I'm not really expecting anything to happen but still think its a ridiculous thing to do.

Piggy, did they not sell fireworks in your local corner shops years ago? I think they were more easy to get hold of back then. We had fireworks at home, but no bonfire (very large garden) and visited a display on another night.

Miaow the fire brigade needs to be given the power to fine morons like that.

Hitting them in the wallet is likely the only thing that will work.

les they may have done but we had no corner shop . There was a sweet shop where you could buy penny chews for a penny though . Those were the days .

My neighbours appear to have one lit under a fucking tree... it’ll be too wet for anything to happen, right??

MaisyPops - while I'll agree that an unsafe bonfire isn't down to the developers, I think we will have to 'agree to disagree' on aspects to do with cramming too many properties into an area, and (for the sake of building another row of houses) giving small front and back gardens as a consequence.

The smaller gardens are a factor in whether someone can put a bonfire 25, 35, 45 feet from a property since so many homes no longer have even 30 feet of garden behind them... and frankly, as a home buyer, I doubt it ever comes into the thinking - it's about whether it is a reasonable price and what distance it is from work and shops and perhaps other amenities such schools (if there are already children, or it is a reason for the move and purchase), but for a young couple perhaps beaches, entertainment, and so on may be of more importance than a smallish back garden... let alone a bonfire.

Take some marshmallows round to your neighbors and enjoy the fire, kids love a good bonfire.

Hope it’s ok, OP. Agree it could spread to the fence and along quite easily by the look of it.

I’m sick of the massive bangs tonight that sounds like bombs going off very near our house. They’re huge BOOMS which resonate in your chest. With one of them the floor shook! Bloody idiots. What’s wrong with the whizzy ones and a couple of smallish rockets. I’m in suburbia not a rural area so I do find it anti-social when they’re THAT loud close to houses.

I think all my estimated measurements of height and distance were spot on.

Well, unless that's a very small fence panel, I'd say there looks to be some distance between the bonfire and the fence, and perhaps 4-5 times that distance between the bonfire and your window.

I cannot do the maths without some actual measurements, and not seeing it in daylight means anything we see is more guesswork than what you know of your garden and theirs.

Viewing the second (back garden) photo, it seems we're seeing about half of the door off to the right, so the fence panels look to be 5' to 6' high and my guess is that there is a least 9 feet from the tip of the flame to the back of their outhouse (and where one of your fence posts is clearly visible with that building behind.it).

I am guessing there's 1 or maybe 2 fence panels to the right of that clearly visible posts going towards your home, making a further 6 to 12 feet.

The view from your upstairs makes me think the bonfire is central in their garden, away from both bushes, tree and fence panels, and while I can imagine it was difficult to know how big the flames would be, it looks far from dangerous... it is just very bright :)

We may have to agree to disagree network.

I agree garden size might not be top of the list but then to me part if buying a house with a smaller garden means no bonfires. Yo do anything otherwise would he irresponsible.

For what it's worth, we are moving from a house in a new estate to a different area and one of the big factors was space around the house (not for bonfires, we just wanted to not be crammed and overlooked). We have made other compromises for the better plot.
If people want a garden big enough for bonfires safely then they should compromise on other things.

"If people want a garden big enough for bonfires safely then they should compromise on other things." - maybe, but I really doubt many people even think about it in the greater scheme of things, they put up with what they have (and could afford when they were looking)

If I had the money, I'd go for somewhere with lots of space, too. Good luck with your move. When my 'dot com' takes off to the tune of 50 million a year, I will be looking for several places in the UK, and 3 abroad :)

maybe, but I really doubt many people even think about it in the greater scheme of things, they put up with what they have (and could afford when they were looking)
Then don't have bonfires in gardens that are too small.

It's simple to me:

1. Bonfires matter to people so they shpuld compromise on some other elements so they can have safe bonfires
2. Bonfires don't mean that much / they can't get a garden big enough so don't do bonfire

There is no logic for people saying I want a bonfire but either won't get tue space to do it safely or can't do it safely. However that's not really my fault so I'll just have one anyway in my back garden because.ne WANTING a bonfire is more important than safety.

Can do it safely? Do it.
Can't do it safely? Don't.

I used to go to my best friend's home(prefab). They had a small bonfire and her dad lit the fireworks. It was always touch and go as to whether the catherine wheels would get stuck or fall off the fence. Does anyone remember jumping crackers? They were eventually banned.

eddie,

Those mad things that shot through the grass and caused kids to flee, shrieking whilst the 'responsible' parent in charge was half-pissed on mulled wine, so had aimed them towards the crowd instead of away?

Why, yes, I do!
Here's a trip down Memory Lane for us.

It doesn't look fifteen foot from your house, he moved it yes? It looks a perfectly Decent asize and a respectable distance from your house.

My living room is 18 foot, no way is the gas fire that far from my sofa.

That fire looks pretty big but not close/big enough (for the moment) for you to come into any harm.i hope you've clean out your gutters though.

Ffs get over yourself - its an an English tradition snd long may it last. So many moaning twats this time of year

Seniorcitizen1

I can't remember anyone saying that the bonfire should be stopped just that it should be a safe distance from the OP's property.

I agree boney.

Have whatever bonfire you like... as long as it is safe.

Then again (to stereotype) i always imagine people who decide to have them i small gardens etc to be very much of the view 'worr it's my garden and i wanna fire. Got a problem with it then go inside will you. Me got some stuff to burn and don't care if it can be burned or nor or whether im a safe distance from houses because.. well.. it's bonfire night. Tradition innit'

Hope it's out now!

One change of wind direction could have proved drastic.
Is the idiot bonfire lighter volunteering to clean your windows for you tomorrow?
What a total eejit

Seniorcitizen I agree that there are "so many moaning twats" at this time of year. The "moaning twats" that insist that they have the right to set off fireworks despite no knowledge of how to do so safely. The "moaning twats" who build massive and inappropriate bonfires without bothering to find out the bare minimum of fire safety.

Sending children up chimneys was also an "English tradition" once upon a time.