Why do people light their fireplaces in dense neighborhoods?

Is electric heating not common? Trying to cool my apt but all the smoke comes in

5 comments

wood is cheap

a lot of people like fireplaces because they feel more cozy than electric etc.
- Didn't know it was cheap
  
  It literally grows on trees
I'm not usually an ass on purpose, and it wouldn't occur to me at all, lighting my fireplace, that I might be smoking out my neighbors. Maybe knock and explain it politely?
- I wish I could pinpoint where it came from. If it was my immediate neighbor I'd ask if it's ok to extinguish it at some point at night.
  
  Could also be from improper use of the fireplace, who knows