An estimated 20,000 evacuees are expected to return Fort McMurray on Thursday, which local officials expect may be the busiest day of the phased re-entry into the community devastated by wildfires.

The 40,000 residents who live in "zone 2", which includes Parsons Creek, Stone Creek, Timberlea, Eagle Ridge and Dickinsfield, are being allowed to settle back into their homes today.

The area is home to approximately half of Fort McMurray's 80,000 residents.

Pete Potipcoe, who hosts a morning show on country music radio station 93.3, said he’s happy to be back and that city residents are in “good spirits overall.”

“The city is buzzing with positivity, people are motivated and excited to get back home and they want to rebuild,” he told CTV News Channel.

“There are obviously a lot of areas that are devastated and there is nothing left,” he added, “so lot of people are finding that tough.”

Potipcoe said he left a window open as he rushed out during the evacuation one month ago, so his house smells a bit like smoke.

Unlike some friends and neighbours, he wasn’t confronted by the stench of rotting food, since there was little in his fridge when he left.

Elvis Loder, a resident of Timberlea, came home and found his neighbour’s home had burned down while his is still standing.

He shared photos of what he thinks are a firefighter’s black boot-print on his door and garage door, and believes the firefighter was making sure nobody was inside.

Scott Long with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency said officials are prepared for the influx.

"It is a challenge, but that's why we've done so much detailed planning on this," Long said during a news conference on Thursday. "We planned for 40,000, and we're capable of bringing all 40,000 in safely."

Long said, based on morning traffic moving north towards Fort McMurray, he's expecting 20,000 residents to return today.

"If they come back, I can assure you they'll be welcomed in a very safe manner, and we'll expedite them in their homes as quickly and safely as possible," he said.

The re-entry began Wednesday, when an estimated 8,000 of 13,000 eligible evacuees returned to their homes in Lower Townsite, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nation and Gregoire Lake Estates.

Utilities were restored to about 1,000 homes and the local hospital re-opened with limited emergency room services.

Long noted that pharmacies, grocery stores and gas stations are open, and additional small businesses are re-opening daily.

The provincial government distributed more than 38,400 pre-loaded debit cards totalling more than $81 million to help Fort McMurray residents with essential living expenses while they were forced from their homes.

Red Cross says $125 million raised for Fort McMurray

The Canadian Red Cross announced that more than $125 million has been raised by individuals, community groups and businesses for relief efforts in Fort McMurray.

Canadian Red Cross President Conrad Sauvé announced on Thursday that the organization has already spent or committed $115 million of the funds raised with direct money transfers and urgent needs such a food, shelter, clothing and hygiene kits.

Sauvé also announced that the Red Cross will provide $50 million to community organizations for their recovery efforts in Fort McMurray.

RCMP Cpl. George Cameron said the main focus of police in the coming days is traffic control, and reminded evacuees to remain safe while driving back into the community.

He told CTV News Channel on Thursday that there's still a lot of "uncertainty" in the devastated Alberta community.

"(Evacuees) don't know what to expect," he said, adding, "this area obviously hasn't experienced anything like this in a very long time, so we all have to be on our toes."

 

 

The fire destroyed some 2,400 structures when it ripped through the community last month.

While more and more residents make their way back to Fort McMurray, they’re returning to a city that is not yet fully operational.

Returning evacuees are being urged to stock up on two weeks' worth of food, water and medicine.

Pregnant women and those with respiratory illnesses are being advised to delay their return until the air quality in Fort McMurray improves.

About 500 homes in the Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways Area have been deemed unsafe for re-entry after tests found toxic chemicals in air and soil samples nearby. Families in those areas could be displaced for a few more months.

The wildfire, meanwhile, continues to burn out of control in northern Alberta, currently covering about 580,000 hectares of land.

Chad Morrison of Alberta Wildfire said Thursday that recent rain in the forecast had prevented the wildfire from growing and at this point it's contained to remote areas.