Some Wheatley, Ont., residents allowed in homes after explosion find sewage water, mould

There was relief and tears in Wheatley, Ont., as residents displaced by last summer's explosion were allowed to returnto their homes Wednesday and reunitewith their neighbours.

The residents have not been able to live in their properties sincethe August blast, and some have quite a task aheadbefore they can move back in.

Becky and Bugsy Lamb regained access to their property to find about 61 centimetres of sewage and water flooding their basement. Mould has seeped up and covers everything in the house.

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They have a sewage pump in their basement, but with no hydro and rainwater coming in, it just filled up, the couple said.

"Today is bittersweet ... we knew what we were walking into," Becky said. "We already know that we have a lot of problems, but you know what?We're home, we're back, our neighbours are pulling up."

The Lambs' homeis one of several that property restorer Jeff Medeiros expects to do work on in the community.

Some aren't so bad but others are like the Lambs, Medeiros said.

"I've beenin the industry about 20 years and I've never seen anything like this."

With their house currently uninhabitable, the Lambs must waitfor their insurance to decide whether it should be gutted and repaired orcompletely taken down. The couple would likea fresh start, with the house torn down.

"We know what we prefer because we smelled it, we were in it, but it's up to them," Becky said.

WATCH | Property restorer Jeff Medeiros says Wheatley home damage among worst he's seen:

Sewage in basement, Wheatley couple dealing with mess

2 years ago

Duration 1:02

Jeff Medeiros is removing 61 centimetres of sewage from a basement in Wheatley, Ont.It's the worst he's even seen in his 20 years in the industry.

Nearly 100 households and dozens of businesses were displaced after theexplosion rocked Wheatley's downtownon Aug.26, 2021. Crews have been investigating the source of the blast ever since.

Over the weekend, the municipality of Chatham-Kent announced it wouldreducethe size of the evacuation zone around the site of the explosion, allowing 34 households and sixbusinesses to return.

On Wednesday, crews were out moving the fencing that blocks people from going in or out of the evacuation zone.

The job on the otherside of the street, at the Lambs' neighbours' home,is much less daunting.

Joe Grubersaidgettingback to the home and being reunited with his neighbours was an overwhelmingfeeling.

"To see each other back by our houses, it's kind of surreal right now, to be honest."

Joe and his wife Reijasaidtheir home just needs a good cleaning, buttheywon't be allowed to move back for noweither.They still have utilities to hook up, which could take a few weeks, before they're allowed to occupy the house.

Reija said she hopes to be back in by the end of the month.

Thecouple bought their house just three weeks before the explosion.With their new start in a new neighbourhood put on hold, they are eager to get back toit.

"We haven't even finished unpacking yet, to be honest," Joesaid.

While some families have receivedgood news, others have not been able to return home they're still within the evacuation zoneand living in limbo.

MargaretWall lived closeenough to the blast for debris to end up in her yard. She said her house is also full of mould.

She'snow living in a cottage, but will have to move again at the end of the month.

"It would be awesome to be able to start work on our house and move back inbut ... we don't know how long it will be."

The municipality of Chatham-Kent said it is still providing assistance for temporary accommodation to those who are still displaced. It saiditwill also try to provide limited access to residents' homesas needed when it'sdeemed safe.