When the Ash Settled: How a Fire Sparked More Than Flames
- John Parsons
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
It’s amazing how one unexpected decision can change everything.
A couple of weeks ago, I had one of the busiest days of filming I can remember. It started off beautifully out on Poole Harbour, camera in hand, filming for Coastal Cruises. If you haven’t heard of them, they run everything from harbour tours to trips along the Jurassic Coast. Brilliant for team-building days… or just a peaceful escape from the office chaos.
Anyway, there I was, sailing around Brownsea Island, thinking about nothing more exciting than what sandwich to have for lunch, when I saw it: a towering column of smoke on the horizon. At first, I thought Poole itself was on fire. But as we sailed closer, it became clear the blaze was miles inland.
By the time we docked, I was faced with a very British dilemma:
Option A: Go home, put the kettle on, and enjoy a well-earned cuppa.
Option B: Head toward the fire and see if I could capture it on film.
I chose the fire. (Because let’s be honest, tea can wait. Opportunities often don’t.)
After parking well away so as not to get in anyone’s way, I sent up my DJI Mavic 3 drone. The flames were ferocious tearing across Holt Heath as far as the eye could see. I only flew for about five minutes, kept everything safe and legal, then went home to edit.
I shared the footage with the main news channels, not thinking much of it. A few hours later, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. BBC. ITV. Channel 4. Sky News. My footage was everywhere. By 2 p.m., there it was on major news sites… sitting right next to Donald Trump stories. My family were calling me saying, “We’ve just seen your name on the BBC!”
It didn’t stop there. Editors from Europe and the US reached out too, turns out, they were covering stories on wildfires and climate change, and my footage was exactly what they needed.
For the record, about 100 firefighters and 20 engines battled the blaze at Holt Heath near Wimborne. Twenty homes were evacuated, locals told to stay indoors, and two days later, the BBC even asked me to return for more footage of the aftermath. It looked devastating from above. (YouTube Video Link at the End)
And here’s the thing: since that day, business has exploded. Calls for drone work haven’t stopped. That one decision to skip the tea, grab the camera, and take a chance put my name and business in front of thousands of people.
So, here are the lessons I took away:
1. Keep your gear handy. You never know when the moment will come.
2. Be ready for opportunities. Success often arrives disguised as chaos.
3. And yes… the cup of tea can wait.
Oh, and the fire? Police believe it was arson, started in three locations. At the time of writing, no one’s been charged.
But that day changed my business forever and all because I didn’t go home for a cuppa.
