Somerset Couple’s Dream Cabin Destroyed by Fire Days Before Move-In

Photos reveal the devastating aftermath of a fire that consumed a wooden cabin belonging to Somerset couple Lyla Griffin, 18, and her boyfriend Neo Stamp, 19, just days before they were due to move in. The £60,000 cabin, gifted to them by Lyla’s father, Matty Griffin, was fully furnished and filled with precious items when it was engulfed in flames in Chilthorne Domer.

In the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, fire crews rushed to the scene after a passer-by noticed smoke rising from the property. Despite the rapid response involving fire brigades from Yeovil, Martock, and Somerton, the blaze took three hours to extinguish and the cabin was completely destroyed.

Matty, 47, who had worked hard to give his daughter a fresh start, expressed his heartbreak. “We have lost everything. All our time, effort and money, just gone,” he said. The couple had invested over £10,000 in new furniture and electronics, adding to the already significant financial loss. Tragically, the cabin was not insured.

The suspected arson attack has led Avon and Somerset Police to investigate. Matty suspects jealousy as a motive, noting that neighbors’ cameras captured two torches near the property at the time of the fire. “Someone might have wanted the land,” he added.

At the time of the fire, Lyla was away housesitting puppies and staying with her grandmother. She described the moment she learned about the destruction as a shock. “My boyfriend and I sat in silence for an hour. It felt unreal, like a huge setback after all our hard work,” she shared.

Now forced to move back in with her father, who has a young baby, Lyla and Neo face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help them recover from this devastating blow. The family appeals for support, hoping to find a way forward after losing their dream home.