Residents are trickling back to Fort McMurray, but for many of those who no longer have homes to return to, the search for valuables in the rubble where they once lived won't begin until next week, and will be carried out by experts only.
During a news conference Friday, the mayor and disaster officials discussed details of the re-entry process which began Wednesday.
Bob Couture, the city's director of emergency management, said restricted areas that were destroyed by the fire will be re-opened on June 8 to those who can prove residency, but mandatory escorts will be required.
"These visitations will be facilitated by an NGO group known as Team Rubicon," Couture said.
Team Rubicon is a not-for-profit group started in the U.S. by retired military personnel seeking to use their skills in a humanitarian way. The work in Fort McMurray is being carried out by the new Canadian chapter of the organization, as its first major project.
The group is on hand to "retrieve valuables and heirlooms that might be in the site while using the appropriate level of personal protective equipment," said Paul H, who is in charge of the new Canadian arm.
Escorted visits to restricted areas will begin on June 8, he said. Residents of burned homes will be able to direct the Team Rubicon volunteers as to where to search, or more realistically, where to "sift" through the rubble looking for specific items, he said.
Couture said hazardous material is still present in many of the affected areas, and only trained experts are equipped to dig through the sites, adding that residents will have to remain behind a safety barrier.
Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake said 24,000 people have returned to Fort McMurray so far, of the 80,000 or so who were evacuated on May 3.
She said many are waiting to find out whether their homes are still standing before they decide whether to return to the city.
She said the streets, empty just days ago, are becoming busy with traffic and businesses are re-opening to serve the returning residents.
Blake said it is "a magical time to be here," and though she admitted the city is far from being back to normal, she said it still feels like home.
Council is still faced with difficult decisions, such as whether to rebuild the three badly damaged neighbourhoods of Abasand, Beacon Hill, Waterways.
Blake said the road residents are on is "long and arduous but I want you to know you will not be alone on whatever path we take."
