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ANDERSON — Tortoise Acres Rescue & Sanctuary in Anderson co-owner Katie Hoffman said flames from the Peter Fire nearly burned down her ranch and injured tortoises at her property on Thursday.

“The fire was at Peter Pan Gulch off Olinda Road where it started,” Hoffman said. “I dialed my husband’s phone, looked up and the next thing I know, the fire was two feet from me.”

Hoffman said she sped down the hill in her Ford Ranger pickup and was chased by the fire to her ranch.

Hoffman worked quickly and volunteers showed up on the property to evacuate as many tortoises as possible during the fire. She also managed to free her two ponies.

The fire entered the grounds, burned enclosures for the tortoises and damaged the fences around the sanctuary. Hoffman’s home and barn were spared.

“I can’t believe that my barn and home are still standing, but my fencing is toast,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said most of the pens and boxes that housed the tortoises were burned during the Peter Fire.

One of the Tortoise Acres Rescue & Sanctuary’s beloved animals, a 17-year-old Sulcata tortoise named Momo survived. Momo was also evacuated from Paradise during the Camp Fire in 2018.

Hoffman said there are 100 tortoises at the sanctuary. She is looking for volunteers to help sort them. Volunteers wanting to assist the Tortoise Acres Rescue & Sanctuary can contact Katie Hoffman at 530-941-0544 or her husband Ken Hoffman at 530-941-1870.

Hoffman said volunteers would help clean pink dust off the tortoises, build box homes and rake dead grass from the property.

Hoffman was helping neighbors round up horses and livestock that were released during the Peter Fire.

“I’m just walking around here stunned,” Hoffman said. “I just walked four ponies back from down the street that were running through fire. Now I have a tortoise that’s upside down.”

The Tortoise Acres Rescue & Sanctuary is accepting donations to help repair damaged property. Checks can be mailed to Tortoise Acres, 365 East St. Anderson, CA 96007. Donations on PayPal can be addressed on the web to turtles@shasta.com.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams’ move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.

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