'I'd almost prefer them to bulldoze it': Toxic ash hinders Fort McMurray rebuild
CBC News | Posted: June 22, 2016 5:46 PM | Last Updated: June 22, 2016
Former Saskatoon resident Audun Klath is worried his Fort McMurray house is not worth saving
The emotional roller-coaster continues for Fort McMurray evacuees like former Saskatoon resident Audun Klath.
His home was one of just a handful left standing in the fire-ravaged community of Stone Creek after the devastating Alberta wildfire, which forced the evacuation of more than 94,000 residents.
- 'It's a tough time,' Saskatoon man returns to Fort McMurray after fire
- Residents of hardest-hit Fort McMurray neighbourhoods still waiting to return
Now Klath fears his house, which narrowly escaped the fire, might not be worth salvaging.
Weeks after he was allowed a brief visit to the house to retrieve his most prized possessions, Klath and his family still cannot move back in, because toxic ash is fouling the air.
He told CBC Radio One's Saskatoon Morning the home was currently considered "unlivable", and he wants answers about the long-term impacts of the fire.
Klath said his house is classified as "restricted", meaning he can enter the home wearing safety equipment, but cannot occupy it.
With hundreds of homes razed by the fire in Stone Creek, he questioned why the neighbourhood was considered safe when others with significant damage were closed.
"That's what I worry about, is that I bring my family back after, in the fall or whenever, and then a couple of years later that we get cancer or some sort of sickness," said Klath.
In a statement on the Alberta Government website, chief medical officer of health Dr. Karen Grimsrud recommended all neighbourhoods were safe for re-entry, except Waterways, Abasand and Beacon Hill.
"As long as returning residents follow the guidelines and precautions outlined by Alberta Health Services and myself," she said.
Klath is also concerned the foundations of his home could have been damaged by heavy bulldozers driving over his property during the cleanup.
He said his driveway had already sunk and one of his neighbours had found stress cracks in the foundation of their home.
"In reality, I'd almost prefer them to bulldoze it and start fresh," he said.
"Do I want to move into a home that structurally could be unsound and could be toxic to my family's health?
"It's a difficult decision."
Adding to his struggles, Klath is also having difficulty with his insurance company, but he said he would not be deterred from rebuilding in Fort McMurray.
"This is my home. This is where my job is, and I'm not leaving," he said.
"I just need some help from our government to basically do the testing and provide us with the results and hopefully my insurance will have a little bit of a heart."