Susan Solari, a longtime German Shepherd breeder in Northern California, was among those caught in the path of the devastating Gann Fire after choosing to remain at her property because she would not leave her dogs behind, according to neighbors and friends.

Solari, who operated Hinterland German Shepherds for decades, was deeply devoted to the animals she raised and showed. As the fire approached her home, her neighbor and longtime friend Joan Wilson urged her to evacuate.

But Solari reportedly refused to leave.

Wilson recalled that Solari was adamant that she would not evacuate without her dogs. With flames already surrounding the area, Wilson warned authorities that Solari remained at the property and was unable to get her dogs out.

“She wasn’t going to leave them,” Wilson said.

It remains unclear whether officials were able to reach Solari directly before the fire overtook the area. Wilson later expressed regret that she could not convince her friend to leave.

“I wish she would’ve listened to me,” Wilson said. “I wish I could’ve grabbed her.”

For decades, Solari had devoted much of her life to German Shepherds through her breeding business. Friends remembered her as a strong-willed woman who cared deeply about her animals and took pride in showing her dogs.

“She was a great show dog lady,” Wilson said, describing Solari as headstrong and strong.

Authorities later discovered Solari, 70, dead inside a residence in the 4600 block of Jaquima Drive near Angels Camp.

Her death came as the Gann Fire continued burning across Calaveras County. The wildfire had consumed more than 10,300 acres, with officials reporting that the blaze was 40% contained in a Friday morning update.

Fire crews continued strengthening containment lines and addressing remaining hotspots while aerial systems were used to locate areas of residual heat.

Authorities had also arrested a suspect accused of starting the fire, though the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Solari’s death remained ongoing.

For those who knew her, Solari’s death represents more than another statistic connected to a wildfire. She was a longtime member of the local community, a breeder who devoted decades to her German Shepherds, and a woman whose final moments were shaped by her determination not to abandon the animals in her care.

Her story has left friends and neighbors mourning a woman they remember for her strength, independence, and deep commitment to her dogs.