Former glamour model and animal rights campaigner Jodie Marsh has shared heartbreaking footage of her Essex home after a devastating fire tore through the property over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of two of her animals.
A Devastating Blaze at the Animal Sanctuary
The fire broke out at Fripps Farm in Lindsell, near Dunmow, Essex, at around 5pm on Saturday. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called at 4.56pm to a property full of smoke, with the blaze located in an upstairs bedroom. The cause has been recorded as accidental, originating from an electrical item.
In an emotional series of Instagram Stories, a tearful Marsh, 47, gave her followers a tour of the extensive damage. The footage showed rooms completely destroyed, with severe smoke damage blackening walls, exposed floorboards, and a caved-in ceiling. While not every room was fully torched, the rapid spread of the fire left smoke residue on virtually every surface.
Heroic Rescue Efforts and Tragic Loss
Marsh explained that she was the one who discovered the fire and, along with friends Chris and Nicky, managed to evacuate most of the animals from the house. They successfully rescued 12 cats, four dogs, and another animal named Mabel while also working to contain the flames.
However, the fire claimed the lives of two baby marmosets that Marsh was hand-rearing after their mother died giving birth. "They meant everything to me," she said, visibly distraught. "The babies dying has broken me beyond belief. This [property] is just stuff that can be replaced."
She added that she had inhaled smoke during the incident and that the property was now without electricity and suffering from significant water damage from the firefighters' efforts.
Overwhelming Community Support in a Crisis
Despite her grief, Marsh expressed profound gratitude for the swift action of her friends and community. She revealed that on the Saturday night of the fire, people dropped everything—leaving restaurants, parties, and nights out—to rush to her aid from hours away.
"I'm so blown away by support and love," she stated. "There's more and more people turning up now, we've got so much help." Those who couldn't make it immediately due to distance or having consumed alcohol offered to come in the following days, with Marsh suggesting a shift system to manage the clear-up.
Fripps Farm is home to hundreds of rescued animals, including emus, llamas, alpacas, goats, and more exotic species like marmosets, meerkats, and skunks. Marsh, who has dedicated her life to animal welfare following her television career, said the loss of the two primates was her greatest heartbreak, overshadowing the destruction of her home.
