Here is a copy of the letter I wrote and distributed to my neighbors.
July 27, 2010
Dear neighbor,
On Tuesday, July 27, around 8:30 p.m., a couple from 11210 left an unattended fire burning in the grill by the tennis court. It was a coal fire, there was no food, and there was no one around when I called out. It was unattended for about 5 to 10 minutes.
I grabbed the fire extinguisher, but opted not to use it as I saw some ice on the ground, and put it out with the ice. I sat there on the park bench for a few more minutes, talking to another neighbor about fire safety, when a child came out from 11210. I asked him whose fire it was, and he pointed inside. I believe it was his mother who came out after that, cursing at me for invading her space.
Yelling ensued, and I went inside and called the police. The woman and a man started the fire again and this time stayed outside, yelling at me through the window. When the police came and went to talk with them, I was only told that the situation was under control.
After losing just about everything I owned in the Dec. 2007 fire at Cherry Glen, I may be a bit antsy when it comes to people leaving unattended fires on the grounds, as I should be. Not only that, it is against condo rules to do such a thing, and it should not be tolerated.
Seeing what we have already been through, I urge anyone to immediately report unattended fires to the police instantly. Cherry Glen has responded in the past by putting up flyers about this, but considering this incident, I strongly feel that flyers dont help. So Im asking you, neighbor to neighbor, to help put an end to this dangerous, selfish behavior that can once again take our homes away.
Thank you,
Ben Sumner
Building 12