June 1, 2016 by Chris Purdy and Lauren Krugel - THE CANADIAN PRESS
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Residents returning to their homes in Fort McMurray are tackling stinking refrigerators and grass grown tall and infested with dandelions as the fire-scarred city slowly springs back to life.
A steady stream of traffic is moving into the northern Alberta oilsands hub as thousands who fled a wildfire a month ago return to see what’s left.
Fenton Lovell says he cried as he drove in and his eyes teared up again when he opened his fridge.
“Fort McMurray strong!” he joked Wednesday morning.
The welcome to ppl returning to #FortMcMurray from firefighters. #albertastrong @weathernetwork @debmatejicka pic.twitter.com/rboKUWP4gW
— Krissy Vann (@KrissyVann) June 1, 2016
Firefighters still greeting returning Fort Mac residents. Have been waving hello since 7 AM. #ymmfire #ymm pic.twitter.com/HXMvAGzTTP
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 1, 2016
He’s getting the house cleaned and ready so his wife and twin babies can return from Newfoundland. After boosting the dead battery in his pickup truck, he grabbed a welcome kit out of his mailbox and put a sign reading “natural gas required” in his front window.
Pilar Ramirez spent the night sleeping in the back of a truck in Anzac, about 40 minutes southeast of Fort McMurray.
She got to work cleaning as soon as she got into her downtown house, which she shares with co-workers at a concrete company.
The grass is long and there are multiple re-entry information booklets hanging on doors. #FortMcMurray pic.twitter.com/rCQo8HrlHY
— Geneviève Normand (@GeNormand) June 1, 2016
LOOK HOW TALL THE GRASS IS! My mom just happened to fertilize before the 4wk evacuation. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/pmEx9OgamY
— LGM (@laurengolosky) June 1, 2016
Her reaction when she first opened the door: “Oh, it’s so disgusting!”
“It smelled terrible, the food. Flies everywhere – and big ones. I said, ‘Oh, my God, what happened here?’”
'It's overwhelming being back, I'm so happy to be back.' #YMM couple still smiling despite smelly house #YMMHome https://t.co/dMeFlnMch6
— CBC Edmonton (@CBCEdmonton) June 1, 2016
Jay is taking out his fridge, there's already a smell and he doesn't want to open it. Will leave in lawn #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/YxUbkCpLiB
— Ameya Charnalia (@aalooameya) June 1, 2016
Until further notice, curbside fridges and freezers will be collected daily until 3 pm. Pls DO NOT put them outside after 3 pm #ymm #ymmfire
— rmwoodbuffalo (@RMWoodBuffalo) June 1, 2016
One of Mike Maloney’s first tasks was to mow the messy lawn in front of his home while his wife and three kids cleaned inside.
“Everybody’s happy but… it’s sad to see what did burn and some loss there. It’s tragic for those people. But I think, all in all, everybody will survive.”
Welcome home, #ymm. The insurance industry has over 1,400 people mobilized and ready to help. Find us in Info Centres. @RMWoodBuffalo
— IBC (@InsuranceBureau) June 1, 2016
Economical Insurance has a response centre for #ymm policy holders the Stonebridge Hotel on 9713 Hardin St. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/gOzhuHeK1u
— Ameya Charnalia (@aalooameya) June 1, 2016
People driving in on the only highway into the area have found the forest on both sides blackened about half an hour out of town. The devastation is apparent from the road just inside city limits and a strong smell of smoke hangs in the air.
#FortMcMurray Read this booklet to be prepared for re-entry once authorized by @YourAlberta https://t.co/0cYBesVNkV pic.twitter.com/Zsl2rwbhbt
— Aviva Canada (@AvivaCanada) June 1, 2016
Our claims employees are on the ground in #FortMcMurray. If you can't visit, call 1-866-464-2424 for an appointment. pic.twitter.com/pKy75m8Lg1
— Intact Insurance (@IntactInsurance) June 1, 2016
Billboards that read “Safe Resilient Together” and “We Are Here. We Are Strong” greet people as they drive in. A huge Canadian flag hangs between the extended ladders of two fire trucks parked on a bridge over the road.
The fire destroyed 2,400 structures, nearly 10 per cent of the city, when it ripped through last month and forced more than 80,000 residents to flee.
Unreal how one house is untouched and the other just rubble. @weathernetwork #ymmfire #FortMcMurray @debmatejicka pic.twitter.com/f7b3Vjq4md
— Krissy Vann (@KrissyVann) June 1, 2016
Bob Couture, director of emergency management for the Wood Buffalo municipality, said he expects between 14,000 and 15,000 people to return Wednesday – the first day of what organizers have planned as a staged re-entry.
“It’s going to be an emotional event when we have those first cars pulling back into the community, because we can all remember when this community left on the evacuation. It was pretty dramatic, but now it’s going to be, hopefully, a joyous event,” Couture said Tuesday.
The Red Cross is prepared to bus in as many as 2,000 residents who don’t have their own cars. Donations to the relief agency sit at $112 million, but officials plan to update that figure this week.
Welcome back, #FortMac residents! Want to know what help is available? https://t.co/QZutMFQjuS #RMWB #ymmsttong pic.twitter.com/E5iOzIiq9o
— Canadian Red Cross (@redcrosscanada) June 1, 2016
Returning residents are being warned that it won’t be business as usual and to bring with them two weeks worth of food, water and prescription medication as crews continue to work to get basic services restored.
Crews have been working to get critical businesses such as banks, grocery stores and pharmacies running again. Supplies of some items may be limited in the beginning and the government says some things may need to be rationed.
Bob Couture says they want to ensure we have a safe return to Fort McMurray #ymm #ymmfire #rmwb pic.twitter.com/UXovcYurXQ
— UCB 91.1 FM (@UCBRadio911) June 1, 2016
“We would not do this if it was not safe to do so,” Couture said.
The re-entry is happening in phases this week. Only people in the Lower Townsite, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nation and Gregoire Lake Estates are being allowed to come back on Wednesday.
Premier Notley says about 7500 have returned to #FortMcMurray so far. Re-entry going smoothly. #ymm #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/JHmgHp8sOL
— Bill Fortier (@BillFortierTV) June 1, 2016
The RCMP say they will have a helicopter in the air to monitor traffic and police kept a close watch on the speed of drivers as they headed home.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley was planning to be in Fort McMurray when the first evacuees return.
“It’s not like, ‘OK, you’re home. See ya. Bye bye,’” she said.
“We’re still with them, and I think it’s really important that they hear that from us.”
WATCH: Global News at 5 Edmonton: June 1. Live team coverage from #ymm on 1st day of re-entry #ymmfire @GordSteinke https://t.co/vWtH6RDOOF
— Global Edmonton (@GlobalEdmonton) June 1, 2016
We are here. We are Strong.
Safe-Resilient-Together.
Welcome Home #ymmstrong pic.twitter.com/YKqHRECTCD— rmwoodbuffalo (@RMWoodBuffalo) June 1, 2016
Thank you to everyone helping out at the info centres; you’re amazing and we couldn’t do it without you #ymmstrong pic.twitter.com/zRnavg9UDN
— rmwoodbuffalo (@RMWoodBuffalo) June 1, 2016
Melanie Galea and Jason Upton came home Wednesday to find that flames stopped 80 metres from their home. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/SSm9UKKNcv
— Justin Giovannetti (@justinCgio) June 2, 2016
Two doors down, city councillor Lance Bussieres home burnt, now covered by protective resin. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/3T3bEXTaqQ
— Justin Giovannetti (@justinCgio) June 2, 2016
These pink notices were placed on the doors of homes adjacent to burned out properties. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/AOJYtArGSI
— Justin Giovannetti (@justinCgio) June 2, 2016
They've already done so much, and these first responders are now welcoming #ymmfire evacuees, home. pic.twitter.com/u2e4KosPVD
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) June 1, 2016
Can't beat this welcome home #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/Ci4h9IFJXd
— Cheryl Oates (@cherylanne) June 1, 2016
#RCMP addressing re-entry Members will focus on assisting with traffic as people move back into city . #FortMcMurray pic.twitter.com/MBXyRuQzFj
— Melanie Nagy (@MelanieMNagy) May 31, 2016
#WeWillRebuild #ymm #ymmfire @RMWoodBuffalo pic.twitter.com/mq6tIFdC5P
— Craig Momney (@CraigMomney) June 1, 2016
Fort McMurray wildfire: What goes into restoring the city? #ymm #ymmfire https://t.co/ArnI2T5ne3
— Global Edmonton (@GlobalEdmonton) May 31, 2016
The protective layer of spray really seems to be keeping debris and smell in. This is Wood Buffalo. #YMM #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/QzNI1O9HVB
— Reid Fiest (@ReidFiest) June 1, 2016
Homes and cars gutted in the #ymmfire. Crews in facemasks in the background working to secure area. pic.twitter.com/vNX4iPNcSn
— Ameya Charnalia (@aalooameya) June 1, 2016
Photos here and in previous tweet are from Timberlea. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/dhEWJv7JCv
— Ameya Charnalia (@aalooameya) June 1, 2016
One of the Thickwood houses that was damaged in the #ymmfire, possibly in explosion afterwards. pic.twitter.com/DsOjPMLUaC
— Ameya Charnalia (@aalooameya) June 1, 2016
The mass disposal of fridges has begun. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/vp7iOm1FuZ
— Alex Boyd (@alex_n_boyd) June 1, 2016
Workers trying to bring Superstore back into shape #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/bbelJZWGBo
— Janet French (@Jantafrench) June 1, 2016
The Peter Pond mall is getting its ducts cleaned #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/wI8FJ3bKps
— Janet French (@Jantafrench) June 1, 2016
Eerie. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/GiTvCOLCjw
— Janet French (@Jantafrench) June 1, 2016
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