Jodie Marsh in Tears After Devastating Fire at Her Home

The ex-model turned animal sanctuary owner has spoken out after a tragic blaze tore through her home, killing two marmosets she hand-reared from birth.

Jodie Marsh has been left heartbroken after a fire at her Essex sanctuary destroyed the upstairs of her home and killed two of her beloved animals.

The blaze, which broke out on the evening of January 10, 2026, ripped through her bedroom after an air purifier caught fire, reducing much of the upper floor to rubble.

The former glamour model, who stepped away from the spotlight to run Fripps Farm, shared the emotional aftermath in raw and teary videos online.

Fighting through tears in multiple social media stories, she revealed the tragic loss of two baby marmosets — small monkeys more commonly found in South America — she had personally hand-reared after their mother died during childbirth. Marsh said:

"The reason I had them in the bedroom is because mum died giving birth, and I had to take them and hand-rear them. [...] They meant everything to me, and that's the biggest loss for me."

Fire Guts Marsh's Home

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews were called to the scene in Lindsell, near Dunmow, just before 5 p.m. Sadly, firefighters arrived to find the property filled with smoke and flames tearing through an upstairs bedroom.

The fire, they reported, had been started by an electrical appliance — later revealed by Marsh to be a recently purchased air purifier. "I'd only had it six months," she admitted. "I did everything right. I changed the filters, and it just caught fire and destroyed the whole of the upstairs."

Fripps Farm — located in the North Essex countryside — is home to hundreds of animals, many of which have been rescued.

Despite the fast-moving blaze, Marsh and her friends battled to contain the flames. She credited one of her male friends with doing most of the heavy lifting while she and another passed him fire extinguishers, hoses, and even a hammer to break windows.

The former model noted that they tried to seek more help from neighbours, knocking for several minutes, but received no response — even though lights were on and cars were parked outside.

The fire was eventually brought under control by the trio before emergency services arrived, but the damage was already extensive. Marsh said, standing in the charred remains of her bedroom:

"There's nothing left up here — nothing."

A Deeply Personal Loss

While the structural damage to the home was severe, it was the loss of her animals that devastated Marsh the most. Fripps Farm — located in the North Essex countryside — is home to hundreds of animals, many of which have been rescued.

Emus, alpacas, goats, sheep, cows, pigs, deer, and even peacocks all roam the five-acre property. The marmosets, however, held a special place in Marsh's heart.

"This is just stuff that can be replaced. The babies dying has broken me beyond belief because I do everything for these animals," she said.

The former television personality admitted she would be sleeping on a sofa for the foreseeable future, unwilling to leave the animals behind — no matter the damage done to her home. She continued:

"I don't care about my house being destroyed. I've lost everything that's valuable to me. But I don't care. The only thing that I care about is that I lost two baby marmosets. [...] I've given up my whole life for them, and those babies meant everything to me. I am so broken, so broken."

Marsh also revealed complications surrounding the licensing of exotic animals at the farm. According to her, local authorities had begun applying pressure for her to submit paperwork for a marmoset licence — despite a deadline that appeared insensitive given her recent trauma.

"Uttlesford have already made it very clear they're going to be difficult," she claimed. "They're trying to make me get my application in by the 12th. [...] I won't be getting it in by then, and they know that full well."

A Community Rallies Around Her

Despite the heartbreak, Marsh took the time to thank the many friends and volunteers who rushed to help in the hours and days after the fire. "I've never felt so loved and so supported," she said.

"Helping to clear the house, clean smoke damage — everything. I'm so grateful to all of you. You are the most wonderful, wonderful people," she added.

Fripps Farm, a labour of love years in the making, stands as a testament to Marsh's dedication.

Marsh's devotion to her animals has long been evident. In April 2025, she appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates' Court to defend taking a meerkat, named Mabel, to a local pub.

She insisted that the animal was kept safe and discreet, often tucked into her jumper or carried in a case, and emphasised that it was not illegal to do so.

"The pub I would take her to was a friend's," Marsh said. "It's a food pub, not a drinking pub. It's never busy in the week... Most of the time, nobody even knew she was there."

Looking Ahead

Now, as she picks up the pieces from this latest ordeal, Marsh faces the difficult task of rebuilding — not just her home, but her sanctuary and spirit. Although visibly shaken, her resolve to continue caring for the animals remains firm. She stated:

"I can't leave here because of the animals. I don't want to leave here."

Fripps Farm, a labour of love years in the making, stands as a testament to Marsh's dedication. And while the fire may have taken part of her home and two cherished lives, it hasn't dimmed the fierce protectiveness she feels for the creatures under her care.