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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours and the fire pit!

134 replies

Fresta · 24/08/2019 23:28

Returned home from an evening out, got out of the car on the front drive to the smell of burning wood like a bonfire. Looked around and no sign of anyone having a bonfire, go round to the back of house and the neighbour has a fire pit burning on the patio- she's gone to bed and left it smoking- the washing on the line stinks, the house stinks, had to close all the windows! It's been 25 degrees all day here and it was warm enough to sit out until well after dark tonight so what is the point of a stupid fire pit? And why would you light one on the first night in weeks that it's been nice enough to sit out! It must have made everyone else's gardens unpleasant to sit in! Luckily I was out sitting in my brothers garden tonight so that bit din't affect us- but if we had been in I'd've been even more livid! I know people like BBqs when it's warm but they only smoke whilst they are being used which is just the time it takes to cook the food- the fire pit thing is still smoking now and it's 11.30pm! Neighbour has form for being a pyromaniac!

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 25/08/2019 10:59

Does it matter if the washing is still out on the line at 11.30pm?

I often leave mine out overnight Grin

Misses the point of this thread & slinks away...

bellainthemiddle · 25/08/2019 11:00

What's the issue with leaving washing out at night? I leave mine out (admittedly on a balcony rather than a garden, as we don't have one) all the time. Perhaps I'm just lazy :D

OP, I definitely think that having blazing bonfires every night is antisocial. BBQs are one thing (and the smell of BBQ wafting through the windows is quite pleasant) but bonfires several x a week is a bit much!

idontletmykidstakerisks · 25/08/2019 11:15

It isnt your business when you nighbour is making a fire.
But instead of posting this incident on mumsnet you could do something to actually solve the problem. You could for example talk to your neighbour and respectfully say to him that by law he is requiered to watch the fire or put it out intirely. And that you really dont have a problem with him/her making fires in their garden as long as he/her dont put the whole neighbourhood at risk of loosing their houses and lives to fire or fumigate everyone around him/her.

LovePoppy · 25/08/2019 11:27

I hate the smell of bonfires and my neighbours wood stove. Hate it. I get trapped inside.

However, it’s their house. It causes me less enjoyment of my garden, but it gives them heat.

All part of having neighbours.

Nothing you can do

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 25/08/2019 11:33

You know years ago people used to think bout other people.
Before they lit a fire they'd check their neighbours didn't have washing out, even knocked on neighbours doors and warned them. They'd actually think,
"Will my smoke and noise upset or interfere with other people?"
These days people think,
"I want, I want I want, fuck em, fuck em, fuck em"

Because people are becoming more and more selfish, more and more inconsiderate and more and more stupid.
I'm fact, I'd bet there's a connection between stupidity and being an inconsiderate jackass.

Dustybun · 25/08/2019 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KissyThief · 25/08/2019 11:36

Omg first world problems that your washing and house smells of wood smoke. If they burnt plastics etc then YNBU.

If it was genuinely unsafe, ie there were flames or embers late at night that could of spread with wind then I agree to call the fire service for educational purposes.

SheeshazAZ09 · 25/08/2019 11:50

Your neighbour is being unreasonable. In many places, including Ireland and many towns in the US, garden bonfires are illegal due to the (carcinogenic) air pollution and fire risk. Bonfires are the one thing that set off my asthma; in some people asthma can lead to hospitalisation and death. Get your garden hose out, fire it over the wall and put the fire out. If your neighbour complains, point out the smoke nuisance. Here in the UK, smoke from garden bonfires, depending on frequency and effects on people, can be considered a Statutory Nuisance. That might be worth mentioning to your neighbour too.

ControversialFerret · 25/08/2019 12:15

We have a fire pit but use smokeless fuel on it. It's at the very end corner of our garden (we have no neighbours on two sides) and we never leave it burning unattended.

darkcloudsandsunnyskies · 25/08/2019 12:28

Bonfires are the main cause of global warming. They should be banned but nobody cares.

So according to my previous comment it is alright to have millions of bonfires in the uk every year but when the amazon catches fire it’s different.

Fucking hypocritical and pig shit ignorant.

Apart from that they are highly cancerous with particles just the right size for you lungs. Stupid people do stupid things.

SoupDragon · 25/08/2019 12:37

Bonfires are the main cause of global warming.

Are they?

darkcloudsandsunnyskies · 25/08/2019 12:39

Wood burners should be banned as they are elsewhere. The particulates get sucked right back into the house they come from.

The UK is a stupid place full of stupid people. What can you expect.

GladAllOver · 25/08/2019 12:47

Certainly check your local byelaws. What you have described sounds quite unreasonable if not actually dangerous.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 25/08/2019 12:51

Is this really an issue that people get worked up about. Confused

easyandy101 · 25/08/2019 13:10

Firing up the fire pit in 3 hours in an densely packed urban neighbourhood

Neighbours everywhere

They just close their windows though, cos they're normal people. We get on well with all of them.

I notice you caveat all the examples of your antisocial behaviour with "every day" so you would let your kids run round screaming sometimes and you would play loud music outside sometimes... I'm guessing neighbour doesn't fire it up every day?

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 25/08/2019 13:19

Neighbours everywhere

They just close their windows though, cos they're normal people. We get on well with all of them.

To your face yes.. I wonder what they say behind closed doors about having to shut their windows in the summer or have their home filled with shit smelling smoke by inconsiderate fucknuts?

SoupDragon · 25/08/2019 18:45

The UK is a stupid place full of stupid people. What can you expect.

Care to elaborate...?

Original poster
Fresta · 25/08/2019 20:46

It’s much more civilised tonight- we are sitting at our outside table with a bunch of candles, next door but one are dining al fresco without making any smoke- light laughter and chatter all round - luckily fire pit neighbour is not out so peace reigns 😊

OP posts:
Kathygnome · 26/08/2019 17:42

We are going through this multiple times a week. YANBU.

Alexapourmeadrink · 26/08/2019 17:53

I’d love to know why it’s a bad thing to leave your washing out? It’s never done any harm here.

Unless the fire thing is regular, I’d let it go.

Does nobody have regular conversations with their neighbours anymore?

Rumboogie · 26/08/2019 17:53

Totally agree. Yes you can shut your windows but unless they are totally airtight (unusual) with no trickle vents, the smoke will come in.
anyway., and who wants to have to go through an airlock into and out of their house?
We have this problem all year round - bonfires periodically all year, BBQ etc in summer, cursed woodburners in rest of year. Didn't used to be like this - we live in a 'village' (ok, a dormitory) and used to have fresh air. Alas no more - we just have asthma.

*Wood burners should be banned as they are elsewhere. The particulates get sucked right back into the house they come from.

The UK is a stupid place full of stupid people. What can you expect*.

This.

hoxtonbabe · 26/08/2019 18:12

Oh my neighbor has decided to start this and it pissed me off no end! We have a shared garden that we can’t just go around burning random shite in. I would have had less of an issue if she said she’s having people round and going to be a fire pit from 5pm on a weekday making loads of noise... i could have gone somewhere overnight but I found out when I could suddenly smell smoke so thought I was burning something in my flat, then realised it was the silly bat downstairs. It’s the lack of basic manners to give your immediate neighbors, (especially when you all share the garden) the heads up that infuriates me.

I had to close all my windows as the smoke was stinging my sons eyes, which in this weather was no fun.

She then decides 3 days later to do it again, my flat reeked for days.

A bbq I really don’t mind but just burning “stuff” because it looks cool did not go down well with me...nor our landlord!

1forAll74 · 26/08/2019 18:19

Just ask your neighbour to not do this again, simple.

ceebeejeebies · 26/08/2019 18:19

I hate fires! I live in a flat and my downstairs neighbour burns rubbish in a bin in their yard. So the smoke drifts in through my windows which are directly above the smoke. They even did it the other week when it was 36 degrees out! I shouted out the window about them being selfish bastards and they put it out. But 😡😡😡😡 fires in built up areas are the height of selfishness!

Dippypippy1980 · 26/08/2019 18:27

I live in a very built up area. Neighbours built a new patio area a few years ago which is very close to our bedroom window and a couple of summers ago they came very late to the fire pit trend. It was every bloody night and afternoons at weekends - couldn’t open windows or hang out washing. The whole place stunk.

Luckily they seem to have become bored with that trend - he seems to be growing a beard this summer😊. I wonder have they discovered avocados yet.