Before being released Sunday in Orange County near where he was originally found, the fox spent over five months at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center for treatment of traumatic burn wounds to his four paws.

The fox was rescued on Sept. 30 by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after it was hurt in the Airport Fire, which burned more than 23,500 acres in Orange and Riverside counties last fall. Officials said the fire caused second- and third-degree burns to the fox’s paw pads.

The injured fox, who “had lost several digits, nails and paw pads,” received daily care and spent months at the center healing, the nonprofit said.