A pet turtle in California narrowly escaped a major fire that erupted when a heat lamp tipped over. The turtle, named Leo, was taking a nap in her enclosure at a home in Fullerton on a Sunday night while her owners were out for a Super Bowl party.
As it happened, a video captured the moment Leo remained oblivious as the heat lamp fell, igniting a blaze that could have easily gotten to her.
Eventually, Leo appeared to wake up and surprisingly dashed into the garden. Although turtles aren’t known for sprinting, she moved quickly, sensing the danger. In a state of shock, she watched as the structure burned just a short distance away.
One of her owners, Heri Tom, mentioned that “kind neighbors” quickly stepped in to put out the flames, potentially preventing further damage to their home. Leo was later found safe among some bushes, visibly shaken by the ordeal.
Tom reflected, “This could have ended very differently.” Despite surviving the fire, Leo did inhale a fair amount of smoke, which raised concerns. After a few days of lethargy and loss of appetite, Tom took her to an emergency vet, where it was found she had some bronchial inflammation and needed daily treatments.
Beloved by thousands online, Leo is still dealing with the aftermath of her narrow escape, but Tom is committed to creating a safer environment for her in the future.
The footage of Leo’s dramatic escape had viewers captivated. Some jokingly remarked that the turtle must have flipped into “sport mode” for her fast getaway, while others humorously suggested she was strategizing to avoid danger.
Interestingly, Leo isn’t the first turtle to face such a perilous situation. Last year, a 45-year-old tortoise in Britain unfortunate circumstances led to another fire, leaving quite the mess for rescuers.
