Firefighters had to deal with an “out on control” garden fire which choked neighbours and forced them to shut themselves indoors.  

A crew from Garston attended the scene near Hatfield Road, Watford, shortly before 4pm on Saturday.

The deliberate blaze, on a narrow strip of land between Hatfield Road and Salisbury Road, was soon extinguished using a hose reel.

Watford Observer:

However Cassiobury Drive resident Malcolm Meerabux said the rising columns of smoke ruined nearby residents’ afternoons, making them shut their windows and stay indoors to avoid the noxious fumes.

“Bonfires can cause nuisance to neighbours from smoke and smells but where is the enforcement for these very already cramped communities?” he asked.

“Given the very compact nature of many Watford terraced house gardens, with old wooden fences where many have an assortment of large wooden sheds containing all manner  of unknown flammable materials and liquids, perhaps the regulations need to be brought under the spotlight after the public's heightened concerns following Grenfell.

“The closure of fire stations further complicates the issues as it could expose people to further risk.”

Mr Meerabux asked whether the rules on garden fires needed to be re-examined in response to the summer “silly season”, in which barbecues in parks and back gardens often go unchecked.

Under current legislation, the local authority has the power to take action when smoke from bonfires is causing a nuisance to neighbouring properties, and can issue fines of up to £5,000.

Have you had problems with nuisance bonfires? Get in touch at editor@watfordobserver.co.uk