There are no real laws governing village household bonfires except nuisance laws for those who persistently light smoky stinkers and more seriously, even criminally, those who see fit burn toxic waste*.
Having a roaring bonfire is, indeed, one of the benefits of village life and shouldn’t be discouraged. However, there are those whose approach to bonfires leaves a little to be desired, and we would like to issue to protocol decree - totally unenforceable of course - except by virtue of courtesy and neighbourliness.
1. Bonfires should not be lit on warm days where your neighbours may be making the most of the rare opportunity to sit in their gardens and enjoy the morning/sun/sunset/evening. This is doubly important at weekends.
2. Bonfires should not be lit on dry weekdays where your neighbours may have washing drying on the line.
3. Bonfire cores should be constructed with dry refuse or wood that doesn’t burn with noxious smoke or foul smells.
4. Very late evening is the best time for bonfires on a dry day.
5. Burning rubber or plastic is not permittedfor stink, smoke and legal* reasons. It also produces toxic smoke which would leave you open to ‘waste crime’ charges, particularly from folk who suffer from respiratory ailments exacerbated by your smoke.
6. If you have to dispose of a lot of green waste - let's face it, it happens - before you set fire to it, see if your neighbours can spare space in their green wheelie bins, or maybe someone can help you shift it to the CDC tip (or, as it’s now called, The Waste Recycling Centre). If you must set fire to it, let your neighbours know and try to choose a damp, grey, windy day.
7. Don’t use petrol to light your fire. The writer of this protocol did, many years ago. The fire exploded and blew the flaming contents of the bonfire over the roof of his bungalow. If you use other spirits or inflammables other than proprietary fire lighters, please ensure your last will & testament is up to date and readily accessible by your family.
8. Old engine oil seems to burn forever with black, smelly smoke. There are proper facilities at the Waste Recycling Centre for disposing of engine oil where they can reuse or convert it to diesel oil.
9. If your fire debris has been there some time, please give it a good prod and move around before you set fire to it. Hedgehogs and other sundry wildlife like to make homes in dry, warm environs.
10. Except for the stink, safety and excessive smoke restrictions, none of the above applies on November 5th.
*Penalties for waste crime (from https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/burning-rubbish)