2 Fort McMurray councillors with kids won't move back as part of re-entry next week
Alberta community's mayor and councillor cite concerns over drinking water, smoke, spot fires
At least two Fort McMurray councillors with children say safety concerns will keep them from moving back next week to the northern Alberta community when wildfire evacuees are scheduled to start returning on a voluntary basis.
"We really don't want to habitate in the area until we have the quality drinking water that we left when we evacuated in the first place," said Melissa Blake, mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which includes Fort McMurray.
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"I look at my young kids. I'm like, 'I can't trust them not to turn the water on and take a big drink because that's what they're used to doing.'"
The wildfire that forced 94,000 people to flee Fort McMurray on May 3 is still burning out of control, but is no longer threatening the city.
The fire destroyed more than 2,000 structures within the city, and has burned 569,388 hectares in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
A phased re-entry of people displaced by the fire is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
I don't want to return to the community when there are any spot fires- Wood Buffalo Coun. Colleen Tatum
Coun. Colleen Tatum also worries about the impact on her three young children. She's concerned about contaminated water, smoke, toxic elements blowing in the air and hot spots.
"I don't want to return to the community when there are any spot fires," said Tatum. "I don't think that having an active fire situation in any part of the community is necessarily where I want to be. But some other people feel comfortable with that."
She said a lack of recreational options and psychological impact on her kids will also delay her family's return.
"I don't want them to see the burnt things," Tatum said. "I don't want them to see any smoke. Even now if they see someone having a campfire or a helicopter, they immediately start talking about the fires."
She respects the decision of officials to allow residents to return starting June 1, as well as those who choose to do so, she said.
"For me and my family, it's too soon."
Re-entry reviewed up to last minute
Blake said the re-entry plan will be reviewed up to the last minute to ensure conditions are safe for people to return.
"I can assure you that the entry plan does have safety requirements that would mean anybody should be able to habitate in that environment as long as they're prepared with a couple of weeks worth of food, having their necessity for prescriptions and medications and having that boiled water adhered to strictly," she said.
Several conditions need to be satisfied for re-entry. Among them, the hospital must be able to provide basic health services, fire must no longer be an "imminent threat" to the city and air quality cannot be hazardous.
Air quality is the most difficult condition to meet because of quickly shifting conditions, said Blake.
Blake said she's heard from those who are adamant about going home to some who are more reluctant. But she advised those with young children, as well as seniors and people with breathing difficulties or pulmonary disease,to delay their return until conditions improve, if possible.
She plans to return briefly next week to check on her home and pick up a few essential belongings. After that she will travel back and forth as required, she said.
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