A reader tells us he is not happy with a neighbor who smells smoke and fears a dangerous fire when smelling smoke from his firepit ["Firepit smoke irks my neighbor," Musings, Aug. 11]. He says he just wants to sit around it with a drink and s'mores, implying there's no harm in it.

I have a neighbor with a firepit. While I have not complained to the fire department or to my neighbor, mainly because I don't want difficulty with neighbors, I too fear fire when I smell smoke.

I dash out of my house, look around at the roof, look over at neighbors' houses, scan the sky for evidence of fire, and then I see the telltale smoke wafting from the other side of my neighbor's house, from their driveway where they park their firepit.

A firepit is an encroachment on others in a suburban environment where many houses in some communities are close. One should have consideration.

-- Barbara Novack, Laurelton

I am with the neighbor on this one. The smoke from wood-burning fires is a harsh irritant and a nuisance, particularly for those with respiratory concerns.

We are unable to enjoy or use our property when our neighbors burn wood in their backyards. The intense smoke even seeps into our home when houses are located so close together, as is typical on Long Island.

Our area's air quality has worsened in the past few years, wildfire smoke is more common, and now we have to contend with social fires, too?

Propane or natural gas are a much cleaner option for backyard fires, or go to a state or county park with approved firepits in a much larger space. Kudos to the Town of Babylon and the fire department for regulating this activity. More jurisdictions should follow suit.