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?

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

And it's a pity we stopped, too many of the little sods around.

It wasn't just an 'English' tradition. The use of young boys to go up a chimney was prevalent in many countries. Obviously no one does that anymore.

Bonfires in the backyard is not acceptable. Our emergency services are overstretched as it is. Plus, it can become an environmental hazard.

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.

eddiemairswife Thanks for bringing back so many memories there My best friend lived in a prefab. They were among the last few families on an estate that probably once housed 50 families. They were eventually rehoused in a proper council house and the place was demolished and turned into a light industrial park.

But while it was still there we used to play in the abandoned gardens. It was probably just one summer but I have vivid memories of exploring thickets of overgrown rose bushes, hollyhocks and honeysuckle.

We had fireworks in the garden as a child. A modest box from the newsagents containing catherine wheels, rockets, roman candles and sparklers. I'd be sick with excitement until my dad got home at about 5pm and nag him to start the display at once. It was all over in about 10 minutes with no harm done. Years after he died, a catherine wheel was still nailed to the fence post. Then one day I looked and it was gone.

It wasn't just an 'English' tradition. The use of young boys to go up a chimney was prevalent in many countries. Obviously no one does that anymore

It was a tongue in cheek comment. I know it was prevalent in many countries.

Our neighbours had one on Saturday. About five feet from their house, five feet from our wooden fence, if that, then hours of fireworks Saturday and Sunday night which kept my twins awake and has mightily pissed me off. They don't have a massive garden so the noise was insane even inside with double glazing. I bloody hate fireworks season!

Wise up!! It’s a bonfire in November!! heaven to Betty’s what next !! Fairylights at Christmas!! pumpkins at Halloween !! I sometimes think the worlds gone mad then I read some of the stuff you lot go on about on mumsnet and I know it’s gone mad!! As I said wise up!!

in the spirit of 'wise up' it's heavens to Betsy

LesDennishair - corner shop - fireworks we used to buy a box and take it in a shopping bag on the bus to my cousin's because her birthday was 5th November. Small bonfire, a few boxes of fireworks, the Catherine Wheels nearly always whizzed off the fence post and rockets could be a disappointment too. Overall it was happy family fun with hot dogs and hot chocolate!
One morning coming in to school a small boy proudly told me he had a rocket. I said how lovely, I hoped it would go high and was he keeping it in a safe place? He showed me that he was - in his back pocket ...

I had a neighbour until 18 months ago who wasn't allowed to smoke in his house. He therefore lit a fire pit basket thing about 12 feet from my back door. It was horrendous with the smoke from the fire beteen late summer and end of spring when it turns a bit warmer for him to stand outdoors and smoke. His whole family complained about him as their bedrooms were affected with smoke. I sympathise hugely but hopefully this will be a one off and for next year I would consult environmental health on safety of a bonfire so close. Double glazing, plastic soffits can be damaged by heat and goodness knows what else by sparks from the fire.

Think most folk recognise it being 05th November and that there will be fireworks and bonfires. Why do we celebrate attempted murder/terrorism of 1606. We don't have a celebration for the Brighton bombing when attempt was made to kill members of government. Fireworks are dangerous. Have a friends who was kit in the leg with a rocket, manmade fibres in her trousers melted and stuck to her skin needing several surgeries to try and repair damage
So yes 05th November but in my view if you want to celebrate attend an organised event.

My thoughts precisely. I have mentioned elsewhere I cannot understand why we do this considering it is celebrating attempted murder/terrorism. Why don't we celebrate the Brighton bombing (attempt to kill government) or any of the other bombings. Wish fireworks and bonfires were banned.

The Gunpowder Plot failed completely. The day celebrates the foiling of terrorism, not the attempt at it.

That's bizarre that you have got that so wrong manic! In Glasgow and N Ireland it's a highly sectarian event , so it has been avoided by many. the Guy on top of the Bonfire is a bit of a clue that it is celebrating the death of Fawkes in particular and the failure of a Catholic plot.

Also heat can crack the house bricks. What moron said about paper? I’d be worried stiff about my house.

Think most folk recognise it being 05th November and that there will be fireworks and bonfires. Why do we celebrate attempted murder/terrorism of 1606.

It was 1605 actually. And you could argue that Catesby's plot was a legitimate response to the Protestant state's brutal persecution of Catholics. Anyway, hundred of years later we just loved celebrating Guy Fawkes' night in our back garden despite being Catholics because it was fun. No neighbours were harmed during our revelries.

I’m all for people having fun just a shame that a lot of people are selfish and irresponsible. Including people nearby to us that have set fireworks off twice last week at 9.30pm

My neighbour (who has a vast garden) chooses to have his bonfires at the very bottom of his garden right next to our fence. He has been asked not to have it so close (and he has so much space to choose from) but he ignores us. Stupid? Thoughtless? Probably both. I use a hose and that seems to do the trick.

Burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes every year is pretty sick and twisted if you ask. Over 400 years now, hasn't the man been punished enough

People having actual fun at 9.30pm Msqueen33? Discusting.

I'd say 9.30pm is reasonable for making noise. I'd get a bit twitchy after 11pm but for a one-off I'd let it go.

I truly sympathise with people plagued by antisocial behaviour of any kind, but unless you're going to give me evidence of the neighbours from hell, I don't care.

Sounds like they're burning all their moving junk as oppose to taking to the tip,trashing their garden at the same time, if they're prepared to do this I'd be worried what sort of neighbours you have.

My friend lives behind a cemetary- had a knock of the door as neighbour could see a huge fire. As it was behind a wall we called the fire brigade who were there in minutes hiding it down. . Bloke who started bonfire looked most put out, but at least thr fire was too. Was less than 100 ft from a main road, obscured views with arid black smoke. Am glad we called them as they were the ones who decided it was out of control. Bloody idiot.

Hope everything turned out ok in the end OP.

we had a bonfire that close on sat and it was fine.

For all of the people who mock OP for her concerns, my neighbors are MUCH further away and when i spoke to the police about their burning plastics and other poisonous materials, he told me that if their fire got out of hand, the fire fighters would think nothing of destroying my property to get to theirs.

They would consider the fire partly my fault for not reporting them, thus my property damage my fault.

A few years ago, some young men had permission to light fireworks, they caught some grass on fire, which led to the meadow, then burned down homes. They were jailed. It was all legal, they were careful, it only took a spark, gust of wind and dry grass.

Fires are dangerous. Please at least have a fire extinguisher handy.

We live semi-rurally, on largish lots. Once our neighbour had a bonfire. All went well for a time, until a a couple of nearby trees went up in flames. The bonfire was set a little too close to them That night ended in two fire brigade call-outs and a massive fine. So you never know with a bonfire!