Sifting through rubble continues in Fort McMurray's hardest hit neighbourhoods

After an emotionally stressful day, many Fort McMurray residents will continue searching through the rubbleof what they used to call home.

On Wednesday, residents of some of the hardest hit parts of thecommunity Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways were able to return to their homes.

That will continue today.

• Residents of hardest-hit Fort McMurray neighbourhoods anxious for rebuild
• Return to Fort McMurray's worst-hit neighbourhoods is gut wrenching

The visits were brief and escorted.The residents had to wear masks and long-sleeved shirts and pants. Those who lost their homes in the fire were able to directworkers to look for belongings inspecific areas ofthe debris.

Many found nothing.

'I don't need to go through my ashes anymore'

8 years ago

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Chad and Amanda Gergely returned to see the remains of their home in the Abasand neighbourhood of Fort McMurray.

Director of emergency management for the municipality,Bob Couture, saidWednesday was "an emotional day."

"Today, we reached a milestone in our re-entry program, which is ongoing. We welcomed the residents of Waterways, Abasand and Beacon Hill back to their community," he said on Wednesday.

Couture added the municipality is providing mental health support to any who need it. One hundred mental health staff are in the city.

70 per cent contained

The fire known as "the Beast" grew slightly yesterday but is almost 70 per cent contained. It now sits at 581,956 hectares with a small portion burning in Saskatchewan.

For some parts of the wildfire, extreme fire conditions exist.

There are 28 wildfires in total in Alberta, with eight burning out of control.

On Tuesday, a separate wildfire forced the evacuation of 118 staff members from a Cenovus heavy oil facility near Pelican Lake. Most of the staff was evacuated using emergencyvehicles but some had to be flown out by helicopter.

By Wednesday, the fire was burning far enoughaway from the facility to letthe company allow for the return of 44 essential workers.

Almost 3,000 firefighters are working on fires across Alberta.