Former television personality and glamour model Jodie Marsh has broken her silence following a devastating fire at her Essex farm, which claimed the lives of two of her beloved animals and caused significant damage to her home.
A Heartbreaking Loss Amid the Flames
The fire broke out at Fripps Farm in Lindsell, Dunmow, on the afternoon of January 18, 2026. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews were called at 4.56pm to find the property full of smoke, with a blaze located in an upstairs bedroom. Marsh, 47, revealed the fire was caused by an electrical fault, though the specific item remains unknown.
The most tragic consequence was the death of two baby marmosets, which were being hand-reared by Marsh in her bedroom after their mother died giving birth. "I've given up my whole life for them, and those babies meant everything to me. I am so broken," she told her followers. "The babies dying, has broken me beyond belief."
Restoration Efforts and Public Gratitude
In the wake of the destruction, Marsh has publicly thanked the cleaning company tasked with restoring her home. She shared stark before-and-after images of her smoke-damaged bathroom on Instagram, highlighting the work of @rjcleaningsolutions247.
"Look at the before and after once @rjcleaningsolutions247 had been in !!! This is my shower. The smoke damage from the fire was insane," she captioned the post. She praised the firm for their domestic, industrial, and fire damage cleaning services, adding they were "massive animal lovers" and "amazing and wonderful people."
Looking to the Future After the Blaze
The incident has prompted Marsh to consider a major life change. Emotionally devastated by the loss of her animals, she has vowed to move "far, far away" to start afresh. "I don't care about my house being destroyed. I have lost everything that's valuable to me – but I don't care," she stated, emphasising that material possessions were replaceable, unlike the lives lost.
This tragedy follows a period of upheaval for Marsh, who recently won a court appeal against her local council's decision to refuse a wild animal licence for her farm's residents, including lemurs. She has previously faced scrutiny from neighbours and online trolls regarding her rescue animal sanctuary.
The fire service confirmed the cause was accidental and that crews worked hard to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread.
