DRONE footage has captured the extent of the large heath fire at Studland and the emergency response to it.

Footage by videographer Krystian Krawczyk show the massive flames and smoke clouds billowing from the heath at Little Sea, which is an area of wetlands at Studland.

As well as capturing the flames, footage also shows crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service being transported to the scene by the Sandbanks Ferry which has ceased its normal operations due to the blaze.

Upper Parkstone-based Krystian told the Echo he thought it was important to film the fire to show “just how bad” it is.

He said: “In my head I was thinking by filming with the drone it could help show people what is going on and how many people are involved.

“Where I was in Sandbanks, I couldn’t really see the flames with my eye so when I got home to look at the footage I realised just how bad and dangerous it is. I’m not surprised they stopped the ferry because nobody should be travelling there.

“It was very scary to see and I think it may take at least a day for the firefighters to put it out completely. It’s very scary but they’re all heroes.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to Studland Heath at 1.12pm for a large fire involving undergrowth and gorse.

"We are asking people to leave the heath for their own safety, and to avoid Ferry Road."

There are currently approximately 70 firefighters on scene. Crews are from:

  • Springbourne
  • Blandford
  • Poole
  • Westbourne
  • Christchurch
  • Wareham
  • Swanage
  • Bridport
  • Redhill Park
  • Verwood
  • Bere Regis
  • Shaftesbury
  • Wimborne
  • New Milton
  • Ringwood
  • Eastleigh