Rubble search team expands in Fort McMurray as demand skyrockets

For some Fort McMurray residents returning home to nothing, it's the little things found in the rubble that make starting anew seem possible.

But that rubble is filled with toxic chemicals, making it dangerous for residents to search for valuablesthemselves. Team Rubicon, aspecially trained team of volunteer military veterans and first responders, is doing it for them and they can barely keep up with the demand.

On Wednesday, team members found everything from a motorcycle frame to a young girl's charm bracelet. They even uncovereda shiny engagement ring, still in the box.

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"[Residents] arequitesurprised to seethat," said Team Rubicon incident commander Andrew Straatsma.

"It's always one or two things that just makes thewholeexperience just so worth it, and that is a starting point for the recovery process for everyone."

After a massive spike in demand, Team Rubicon is drastically boosting its numbers to shorten a waitlist of more than630 people. It's far more than the 100 or so people from whom they expected to receive calls.

Residents risk safety,search throughash themselves

Instead of waiting for the team, some residents tookmatters into their own hands on Wednesday.

In Beacon Hill, one couple, dressed in white protective suits, boots and respirators, dug through the rubble of their own home. They found a necklace and silver tea cups.

Team Rubicon currently has about 25 people on the ground, sifting through rubble. Over the next week, they expect to increase that number to around 300.

People have firearms in their houses, ammunition that has gone off or hasn't gone off.- Andrew Straatsma, Team Rubicon incident commander

The timeline allows for incoming volunteers to receive essential training and equipment necessary to work in conditions so dangerous that, in some neighbourhoods,even residents whose homes remain standing haven't been allowed to return for good.

Soil samples taken from the worst-hit neighbourhoods of Beacon Hill, Abasand and Waterways this month showed dangerously high levels of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and other chemicals.

Every sample takencontained levels of toxic chemicals in excess of maximum standards set by the Alberta government, with some levels multiple times higher than what would be expected in the environment.

The province said the results are consistent with chemicals left by items on residential property that can burn, like vehicle tires.

And it's not just the ash that poses a threat to Team Rubicon.

"It's all the debris that they're sifting through," Straatsma said. "It was 3,000 degrees, that fire. So you're still getting exposed nails and collapsed parts of chimneys, anything and everything.

"People have firearms in their houses, ammunition that has gone off, or hasn't gone off."

After several warm, dry days, rain fell in Fort McMurray on Thursday. Even rain, or a flareup in a fire nearby, can slow progress, Straatsma said.

Work to span the month of June

The team is expected to hold a town hall with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo this week to determine the next steps.

They've also released a map, outlining the timeline for completing work in specific areas.

Team Rubicon will sweep the Timberlea neighbourhood first, from June 7-12. The worst-hit areas of Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways are projected to be completed from June 13-21. The city centremuch of which remains untouched will be last, scheduled for near the end of June.

Straatsma said residents who have requested appointments can expect to receive phone calls 24 to 72 hours before teams arrive in their neighbourhood.

Straatsma said the city and municipality are working with them to ensure everyone on the list receives services.

"I know that it's slow, and that'sunfortunate," he said."I think thegenerallogicis, wewanttohitfrom top to bottom in asystematicway, so we ensure every home gets completed and notone home missed.

"We do have astrategy. We're literally now in execution phase, so barring any acts of God, we've gotthis."