The quick escape of a stereotypically slow reptile from a shed fire is getting attention on social media. Leo, a female tortoise, tapped into her speedy side to flee flames that engulfed her backyard habitat in Fullerton after a heat lamp tipped over and caught fire.
A video of Leo’s escape shows the tortoise going into what her owners called “sport mode” to get away from her burning shed.
Hyeri Tom and her family, Leo’s owners, were at a Super Bowl party on Sunday, Feb. 8, when an observant neighbor noticed the fire and put it out. When neighbors called her to tell her about the fire, her first thought was Leo. Initially, with Leo’s habitat totally destroyed, the family feared the worst, but a neighbor found her tucked under a bush, much to everyone’s relief.
Later, Tom logged on to look at her security footage and realized Leo’s escape had been caught on camera. Footage shows the tortoise scurrying away from the burning brown shed, which had a sign with her name on the outside. Tom shared the video on social media to show Leo’s speedy escape, but also to bring awareness to the risks of heat lamps.
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