Some Fort McMurray front-line workers skeptical of June 1 re-entry date

Emergency experts areraising safety concerns about the timeline for the return of evacuees to Fort McMurray.

Just a week beforethe scheduled voluntary re-entry, retiredfirefighterGarethNorrissaidfirefighters are still putting out hot spots whilewaist-deep pits of ash smoulder around the city.

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"These areas are still hot and are a potential danger for house fires should the wind pick up and carry this ash into town,"said Norris, who worked with theFortMcMurrayFire Department for 17 years and trained some of thosecurrently on the front line.

Last week,the province announced plans for a phased re-entrystarting June 1, based on several conditions. Among them, thefire mustno longer be an imminent threat to the city, withsuppliesof potable wateravailable andreasonable air quality.

Norris said he istroubled by agovernmenthandbook that tellsreturning residents to bring twoweeks' worth offood, drinking water and an N-95 respirator mask.

"Why would we need that if it was OK to come in and breathe the air?" askedNorris, wholeftduring the mass evacuation but said he is in regular contact with first responders who have expressed concerns.

"Tome, that means it's not safe," he said. "Ifyou're telling me to bring everything I need to camp in my home, and a dust mask, and don't let my animals out into the ashes, and definitely not my children then there's an issue."

He plansto leave his children in Edmonton when he returns next week to check on his home and business.

'It's definitely a threat'

A front-line worker currently inFortMcMurraytold CBC Newshe won't bring his two small children home any time soon.

He's worried about the safety of the water andavailable health care, as well ashot spots throughoutthe city.

"Ifit was like this on the day they were re-entering Iwould definitely be cautious about it," said the first responder, whoagreed to speak with CBC News on condition of anonymity. "It's definitely a threat."

If my kid gets sick,I want them to have the best care possible, not being looked at in a tent.- Fort McMurray front-line worker

He said he empathizeswith those who feel the need to return, but as a father,he feels it's not safe.

"You need a fullyfunctioning hospital to be ready, because if my kid gets sick,I want them to have the best care possible, not being looked at in a tent."

But he said he personallyfeels safe, andhe's pleased to seetheamount of work being done togetthe city ready.

"They are working their butts off to make it safe," he said of workersrestoring gas, electricity and water."They are trying to make it safe by the time you get up here."

Re-entry on track, despite air quality concerns

On Tuesday evening, the air quality indexwas considered low risk at three on a scale of one to 10, but Norris said thatcould easily change.Just nine days ago, it was38.

Fort McMurray's rehearsal for resident's return

8 years ago

Duration 1:41

The big move needs some serious planning for traffic and the town's services, which will be hard pressed right away

He said the index does not address potential lethal combinations of chemicals including carcinogens from burnt material during the salvage and overhaul phase.

Norris said there are entire communities in this phase.

"I'm not sure I want anyone I know to be breathing that in, especially my kids," Norris said.

He also expressed concern about conflictinginformation from officials: the re-entry handbook says water can be used for bathing butan alcohol-based hand sanitizer must be used after hand washing.

The province said Tuesday it was still working towardnext week's re-entry, and that restoration on the hospital began Sunday.

"We are still on track for a voluntary phased re-entry, beginningJune 1," Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said.

"But I remind all Wood Buffalo residentsthat all services will not be fully operational by then, and there may be people who choose to wait as a result."

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca

@andreahuncar