Emotions ran high as Fort McMurray residents returned to areas of the city all but annihilated by the wildfire.
For the first time Wednesday, blockades outside the three hardest hit neighbourhoods of Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways were dismantled — and residents were allowed escorted visits to what remained of their homes.
For Tanya Brittain its was a gut-wrenching homecoming.
Her neighbourhood of Beacon Hill was largely devoured by the flames; its once-orderly streets, now unrecognizable.
She said she wanted to puke and scream at the first sight of twisted pile of cinders and ash where her home once stood.
But as Brittain — clothed in a white safety suit and mask— began to scavenge on her hands and knees through the brittle debris, she took solace in what she found.
Although heavily tarnished by the flames, she uncovered a few precious items amid the ash, including a necklace, and a silver tea set.
“It’s not much, but it’s all we have left,” she said.
At first, Tanya Brittain said she wanted to puke, scream. Now she’s happy she’s finding valuables in the ash. #ymm pic.twitter.com/vvZe3NBuKL