Photographer Scott Johnson described a harrowing experience after a fire at a local farm led to a massive explosion, devastating his studio and raining debris around him. The incident occurred on a farm in Rettendon, Essex.
Johnson was on his way to a meeting at his studio when he noticed a fire on the horizon. Realizing the fire was at the farm where his studio was based, he decided to move his expensive equipment to his van. "It was about 150 metres (492ft) from my front door, and I quickly cancelled the meeting and thought, 'I'm not happy with where the wind is going on this'," he recounted.
It was during this process that the explosion took place. A unit housing fertilizer had detonated, sending a shockwave that impacted Johnson. "It blew me into the door and I just ran to the van, dropped the bit I went back in for - maybe it saved my life, I don't know," he said.
He witnessed his studio roof completely cave in. After driving to a safe distance, Johnson reported being in shock and shaking, though an ambulance crew checked him over. He sustained only a "dodgy ear from the pressure" and expressed disbelief at escaping unscathed. Despite the destruction, Johnson was able to cover a wedding booking the following Saturday with the help of his assistant, James Musselwhite.
Twenty firefighters were taken to the hospital following the major incident. The cause of the fire and subsequent explosion is under investigation. A statement was delivered by Rick Hylton of the fire service.
