Real test for Fort McMurray re-entry plans may come today

Up to40,000 evacuees areeligibleto returnto their homes inFortMcMurray,Alta.,today, but officials say they expect onlyabout half that number will actually arrive.

Those residents live in Zone2, which includes the Parsons Creek, Stone Creek,Timberlea, Eagle Ridge andDickensfieldcommunities.

Emergency officials say the first day of the four-day staged re-entry wasa success.Some15,000 evacuees were allowed toreturn Wednesday, but by day's end, only about 8,000 had made the trip.

On Thursday morning, traffic on the highway leading into the city had doubled from the day before, and officials saidthey expected Thursday woulda bigger testof the phased-in re-entry plan.

• 'A little bit of a miracle': Fort McMurray fire Chief Darby Allen on the rebirth of a burned city
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As people return to their homes, the Red Crossfundraising campaign to help them continues.

Conrad Sauv, president and CEO of the CanadianRedCross, announced Thursday that donations now total more than $125 million. Both the Alberta and the federal governments have committed to match any donations made by May 31.

Sauvsaid hisorganization has committed more than $165 million to help Fort McMurray residents and community organizations.

In a video posted on Twitter, Bob Couture called Wednesday a "great day" as everyone arrived safely and followedthe dates and times as asked.

Even the weather seemed to celebrate the initial re-entry Wednesday. The rain that has beenso desperately needed over the last four weeks began falling.

More rain is expected.Environment Canada is calling for a 30 per cent chance Thursday and 60 per cent chance Friday.

Many ofthe90,000 residents forced to leave on May 3 when the wildfire roared intothe oilsands capital are expected to return home over the next few days, while others intend to return over the summer.

The wildfire itself remains out of control, covering anestimated nearly 582,000hectares, though it has seenminimalgrowth over the last couple ofdays.