local Fire Dept sign says our fire risk is between "High" & "Extreme"

[SpottedCrow]

Sounds to me like it's high time to throw more Chlorine in the Gene Pool!
Call the Fire dept and see if you can get pics and call the parents.

 

[65browneyes]

Having been in this situation before.......without hesitation, call the Fire Department. Leave it at that. Don't give the parents or kids time to cover anything. I'd rather save my property than the relationship with my neighbor, if it were to come to that.

 

[cookinmom]

I think I would call the cops too. I don't know much about fire departments; do they have enforcement authority? You probably wouldn't need to catch 'em in the act. There's plenty of evidence of what they've been up to, and those fire guys are able to tell how old that is. Don't worry about them getting mad; they will, but they're insane anyway, and it's not worth the risk to shut up and leave them alone.

 

[peacebird]

I'll call the fire department - I was just down in the lower field and the remnants are still smoking. Add to that they now have a stack of logs down there all set for another bonfire.

I have to tell you it scared the bejeebus out of me to hear those pickups roaring down the hill snapping off branches and small trees at almost midnight. It's not like theres a driveway down to the lower forest - there's a track for their kids dirtbike but it's not big enough for a full sized pickup truck..! or at least it wasn't til now.

thanks for all the advice and encouragement everyone!

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
Ain't that the truth!! And they need to start in Los Angeles!

 

[erinm]

What good parent allows ten year olds to go make bonfires without an adult to supervise and control it? That is completely irresponsible!!! I don't let my kids near a campfire without me! erin m

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Maybe they are pyro-wannabes. Arsonists-in-the-making have a fascination with fire; always start with matches, then work their way up to small fires, then it's burning property.

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Ok.. I guess I'd play the innocent card. Call the fire department and report the fires there. If your neighbors ask if it was you say yes, you saw the fire and thought a fire had broken out so you called them.

If you catch the little buggers doing it, give them a good talking to. If that doesn't work, call the police. This is a dangerous situation. And maybe you have a choice to make: your pyromaniac, neglectful neighbors or your home. I know which I'd choose!

I can't imagine those parents AT ALL. As Angie said, we have strict laws here. My hubby is so picky about it, he won't even leave a grill unattended.

-Meghan

 

[schmoo]

Your nicer than me, I would've called last night when the parents were down there to face the music and not pretend they didn't know what was going on.
Your home and family come first, if you want to keep things "nice" between you and the neighbors, go have a talk with them and tell them your feelings about huge fires set by children near everything you own and love. If they don't "get it" then they deserve whatever trouble they'll be in.

Some people........... you just have to wonder what those lovley kids are going to turn out like.

 

[Judymae]

We have this problem a lot! In Texas the last 2 summers were the worst drought ridden ones we have had in over 30 years! My neighbors didn't care. We live between 2 brothers. One on each side of us. Both of them started bonfires at the same time! Right up against my dry pasture. Knee high dry grass pasture! I just died when I drove up and saw the flames on each side of my pasture. The wind was blowing and their flames were spreading all over the place. I had the volunteer fire department at my house in less than 5 minutes. 2 tankers and 3 personal trucks (since they are volunteer the ones at home come running to help when they hear the call over their radios) showed up in my front yard. They split up and without even talking to the owners they pulled onto their property and put out both fires simultaneously. My neighbors had a fit. Started screaming in spanish at them. The firemen said do not light anymore fires. Informed them that we had a fire ban and had had a fire ban for almost 2 years. When the firemen came back to our property I thanked them in tears. I just knew my horses were gonna get caught out in the field and not be able to get a way from the flames. Or my house would burn down. But it didn't help-----as soon as the fire department drove to the end of our road the neighbors had both fires going again. I called them back immediately. This time the fined them and charged them for the water usage to put out their fires twice. My neighbors tried to fight the fines because they said the burn ban signs weren't in spanish!!!! Didn't work. They hate me but I don't care. I don't want my land or home or animals endangered by someone elses stupidity!