'It's a tough time,' Saskatoon man returns to Fort McMurray after fire

His home is just one of a handful still standing in the fire-ravaged community of Stone Creek in Fort McMurray, Alta., and today, former Saskatoon resident Audun Klath is getting his first glimpse inside his charred duplex.

"It's a tough time right now," Klath said. "Our house was one of seven duplexes still standing in Stone Creek. There's about two to three hundreds houses that aren't standing right now."

Klath spent Thursday morning standing in line with more than 50 Fort McMurray residents at the entry centre in the northern Alberta city. He said there was a level of excitement to get back into homes but that was mixed with hesitancy because many people don't know the conditionof their homes.

What Klath does know is that he's returning to a community that is hard to recognize. From what's he seen in photos, the outside of his home is charred and his wife's car was destroyed by a grader that moved the car to save their house. But his house is still standing and he saidthere is a level of guilt when it comes to returning to Stone Creek.

"My wife and I discussed that. We were driving back to Saskatchewan and realizing all our friends have nothing. Our home is still standing."

Klath saidmore than anything he wants to get back in his house and grab things that mean the most to him. The family of three left with one suitcase when they fled the community more than a month ago.

"I have this old hockey stick my dad gave me years ago. It's from the 1930s or '40s. It's something you'll never be able to replace."

Only 20 minutes inside house

After waiting for much of todaytrying to get access back into the area his house was, Klath was finally let into the restricted area Thursday afternoon. But he was only allowed 20 minutes to grab his most prized possessions.

"I ran through the house," Klath said. "Ripped aroundit and tried to get as much stuff from my wife's list."

Klath said the inside of his home was just how they left it and that he couldn't smell smoke. He was able to fill one suitcase and one bucket before time ran out.

"Over the last four weeks you realize what you really need,"Klath said.

There was a lot of confusion over whether or not the Stone Creek community was in the restricted zone or in an area people could get to. Klath found out today that there was misinformation and Stone Creek re-entry should have been delayed.

"I don't know if anyone is to blame. Our neighbourhood was forgotten. It's going to get better for people who went up there for the day, it wasn't as smooth as it could have been."

Klath is now heading back to Saskatchewan and is unclear when he and his family will be able to move back to their home.