ORLANDO, Fla. — An animal sanctuary owner says some of his hundreds of startled animals saved his life as a fire tore through his property early Monday. 

More than 40 animals are missing or were presumed killed at the Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary. Jim Bronzo, the owner of the property at 805 Baron Road, also tried rescuing animals while his home was on fire. 

Fire officials said there were about 350 animals living at the sanctuary.

“This was a pretty intense fire, so it’s probably unlikely that any animals that weren’t able to get out on their own accord survived," said Michael Jachl with Orange County Fire Rescue.

The 41 animals missing or killed include six baby raccoons, three dogs, four cats, four giant tortoises that weighed 300 pounds each, three sugar gliders, one iguana, two parrots and a dozen other birds, a carpet python, a ball python, a boa constrictor, four ducks that were nesting under the second floor of the structure, and one squirrel, according to Fire Rescue.

One dog named Yoshi made it out alive. 

Crews said the flames spread quickly, because the main structure was a wood-framed home.

About 80 peacocks live on the property, and according to Fire Rescue, at least one of the shrieking birds woke Bronzo at about 1:30 a.m. after hearing loud explosions. Bronzo woke up and heard the sound of crackling wood. He went downstairs to see the home engulfed in flames.

Neighbors called 911 because the homeowner was so overwhelmed with effort to save his animals. 

"I went outside, and I saw this blazing fire in the house, and it was a scary thought," neighbor Denis Moredo said. "And my Dad just started running out, and he went to see if the owner of the house was OK."

There were a variety of exotic animals living at the property, including llamas that were running free and had to be rounded up.

All day Monday, people showed up to lend a hand — even rounding up the llamas that escaped into the neighborhood.

"Jim has dedicated his life to these animals. He almost lost his life this morning, so we want to help him as much as we can," said Katrina Shadix of the group Bear Warriors United.

Animal control was called out to help with the animals. 

Bronzo has been involved in a public dispute with his next-door neighbor over the sanctuary and the smell. It even came up at a recent Orange County Commission meeting last week.

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined. The state Fire Marshal is investigating but says nothing suspicious so far has been found.

Bronzo said he didn't have insurance, and the sanctuary is looking for donations to get it back up and running. It's particularly in need of feed and hay for farm animals. The sanctuary is asking anyone who wants to help to go this donation page on the sanctuary's website.