Garden house destroyed by fire in Kauguri parish as neighbours describe years-long feud

A fire recently broke out in Kauguri parish near Valmiera, in northern Latvia, engulfing a garden house. Rescuers spent more than five hours putting out the blaze. The resident managed to evacuate and was not hurt. The incident was reported by the programme "Degpunkts".

The man is well known in the area, though the feedback about him is not positive. Valentīna and her husband Pēteris, who live in the house opposite, say their conflict with the neighbour, Jurijs, has lasted for years. According to them, he regularly swore at them and made threats, and once even promised to burn down their property. Valentīna says a police officer advised her to buy pepper spray because the neighbour came at them, shouting abuse and carrying a shovel. She says two canisters of pepper spray have been used on him.

Police and neighbourhood disputes

Valentīna and Pēteris regard the fire as a kind of karma. Still, opinions about the man differ sharply in the village.

Police have been called about him regularly, and officers have visited the address many times. Sometimes matters were settled on the spot and the neighbours' disputes subsided on their own. In other cases, the man had to be taken to a sobering-up facility.

The source does not state what caused the fire.