A TEENAGE couple’s first home was burnt down in a suspected arson attack near Yeovil, resulting in £60,000 of damage just days before they were due to move in.
Lyla Griffin, 19, and her partner, Neo Stamp, 19, had been gifted the hand-built wooden cabin and the land it was on by Lyla's father, Matty Griffin, and had already decked out the property with new furniture and sentimental items.
On Tuesday, October 27, before 6am, an electrician who was passing the property spotted smoke pouring from the cabin and notified a neighbour, who got in touch with the family.
Matty said: "We rushed down and we couldn’t save it; there was nothing we could do. The fire brigade was already there. It didn’t seem right any of it. I just don’t understand what happened."
Fire crews from Yeovil, Martock, and Somerton fire stations were called to the scene at around 7am. The fire was extinguished after three hours, with crews requesting additional support and equipment to fight the fire.
Avon and Somerset Police also attended the scene and are investigating a suspected arson attack.
READ MORE: Arson suspected as home destroyed by fire near Yeovil
Matty said his daughter was expecting to move into the home just after the water was connected on October 21, and had been waiting for the planning permission to come through.
At the time of the fire, Lyla was housesitting puppies in Winchester.
Her dad said: “Thank God she wasn’t there, God was on our side in my eyes.
"If that job never came up, I don’t think I would be talking about my daughter as I am now. I would be completely closed off if I lost my daughter. I could have lost my baby daughter.
“She was moving her stuff in, all her baby photos were, she bought all brand new furniture for the inside and was all ready to move in. She put all her money into it, and I feel disappointed because I let her down."
The property, which was described as “wooden clad”, was completely destroyed, fire crews confirmed.
When asked how he felt about the incident, Matty said: "It's ruined someone’s life. My daughter is too scared to go down there. She is too scared to live down there now.
“She is moving back in with me, and we are going to be overcrowded now because I have a six-month-old baby and another baby on the way, and her boyfriend Neo also lives with us, so that’s six people living in a three-bedroom house.”
Matty added that the home was not insured, so his family have lost £60,000 and has little hope of getting it back.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started by Leanne Smith, who said: "I am trying to raise money for my stepdaughter and son-in-law.
"They have both worked very hard to be able to afford their dream property. On the 21st of October, the water was connected, which cost £4,500, and we had planned for them to move in the next day.
"They have lost everything from high-end brand new things down to sentimental baby pictures that can never be replaced. As a family, we have all spent time and money helping transform this property, and we are devastated.
"We are asking for your support and donations to help get them back on their feet, even down to sharing this post, would be appreciated."
Matty said: “The GoFundMe was started just to get my daughter a little bit of her money back. We are never going to get back as much as we lost, but it’s just to say there we go, people do care about you.”
Matty also shared how grateful he is to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, he said: “The fire brigade are just excellent people. The fire brigade needs medals in my eyes. I am over the moon with the fire brigade.”
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