We got some much needed rain over the last few days after more than a month of dry weather, which created a firestorm throughout parts of New Jersey.

We reported on the impact those wildfires had on roads and homes.

But tonight, we're exploring how a wildfire can put wildlife at risk of serious harm or losing the ecosystem they call home.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan spoke to workers at the Last Resort Wildlife Refuge, which has been working around the clock to support animals impacted by the Jennings Creek fire.

So we have a real problem right here that has been all over our Facebook page because it came in with a huge burn, all four feet burned smoke inhalation and a humongous burn on the hip.

Nancy Warner showed us the little groundhogs you'd fondly nicknamed Extra Crispy Potato.

A very small burn patient caught up in the very big Jennings Creek fire that ravaged 5300 acres of forest on the Jersey New York border.

Rapidly advancing flames drove injured wildlife onto roadsides into people's backyards.

Folks called Warner, who runs the last Resort Wildlife Refuge atop Moore Mountain in West Milford.

I'm going to say we had 190 calls the first week just related to the fire.

And I have a great team of rehab ers and apprentice rehabs.

And we were all responding around the clock.

She says, sadly, most animals died of their injuries at the scene, but about 20 made it to last resort, where volunteers set up a makeshift emergency burn center of sorts.

Running IVs and incubators and oxygen chambers in different buildings on the grounds.

They were coming in mostly with burns on their feet and their bodies and a lot of smoke inhalation issues, you know, respiratory issues.

Besides extra crispy.

Who's on the mend?

There's a little possum still recovering after her feet got badly burned.

A skunk that initially needed oxygen and nebulizer treatments.

Injured raccoons and several foxes, including this one that's under a vet's care.

As his scorched eyes slowly heal.

He'll probably be released in the early spring.

Yeah.

Once.

Once he's healed.

And he can see and he can go hunt and, you know, catch mice and do Fox things again.

Several fire victims will spend the winter here healing, getting their strength back.

When it comes time to be released, some will be let go here.

The center sits on 86 acres of wilderness.

Warner and her volunteers are fueled entirely by donations and dedication.

She's a trained vet tech.

A state licensed wildlife rehabilitation expert who bought this place four years ago to care for patients like this seven month old bobcat that arrived starving and covered in ticks.

And she remains worried about the fire survivors who escaped two adjacent woods.

They're going to be looking to go back and hibernate or, you know, get nested and their homes are gone.

She's asking residents living in areas near the fires to show some grace and patience.

Recognize that these animals may come into your yards looking for rest or refuge briefly until they move on to their next location.

Put out some water and take your dogs and kids inside and let them have a rest.

And just be kind.

Warner plans to open a full service wildlife hospital serving the whole state up here on Mobile.

And she's got a big property and a bigger heart in West Milford.

I'm Brenda Flanagan and Spotlight News.