On the first media tour of Fort McMurray, the homes and businesses that remained in all of their beautiful ordinariness spoke louder than the charred wreckage from the wildfire.

Because of the dogged work of emergency responders, between 85 and 90 per cent of this northern Alberta city that was surrounded by an “ocean of fire,” only a few days ago has been saved — including the hospital, schools, and much of the commercial and industrial properties.

While 2,400 structures were lost, an estimated 25,000 still stand, and the city will emerge with much of its critical infrastructure intact, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told a press conference Monday, inside the city.

Notley, who toured the wreckage separately from media, said she was struck by the stark contrast between neighbhourhoods.

“It reinforced to me how much work and how much success was achieved over the last few days by those heroic firefighters, who managed to stop a fire that, on one hand, was capable of levelling blocks and blocks of houses and then suddenly stopping right next to houses that remain untouched and habitable.”

Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake’s voice caught when she spoke of the images, such as a destroyed pink tricycle, that have become associated with the fire. But she told the media she saw something else: “The homes that still stand,” she said, speaking at the press conference at Fire Hall No. 5. “Parks with swings and slides and things that children will expect when they return.”

Notley said there is weeks of work ahead to make the city safe for human habitation, and noted the government would provide a plan within two weeks, urging the estimated 80,000 who fled the city to stay away. Large swaths of the city have no power, gas or water.

Over 700 firefighters are still trying to tame the out of control fire, and 300 more are on the way, as the large blaze moves further east into forested areas, away from communities and industry. The Suncor facility north of Fort McMurray was secure, as was the nearby community of Anzac. Notley was scheduled to meet with leaders in the energy sector on Tuesday.

During the escorted media tour, Fort McMurray was quiet, its outskirts still smouldering as helicopters dumped water on hot spots.

Fire Chief Darby Allen stood at the front of the bus, holding on to the seats for stability,

“This was one of the first areas that was hit by the fire,” he said into the intercom, as reporters and their cameras were glued to the windows to see what was left of the Beacon Hill neighbourhood. “At those stages we were depleted by manpower, water shortages, and we made a decision early, to retreat and start fighting where we could.”

For five minutes, the press walked in a small section of Beacon Hill, where 80 per cent of the houses were reduced to crumbling foundations. Small bits of the homes they used to be were amid the rubble: Barbeques, hastily stacked lawn chairs, a green garden hose on a lawn. The mailboxes, bus shelters, and sidewalks lining the street looked as though nothing had happened, as did portions of the front lawns. Some of the trees were even beginning to bud. Vehicles left in laneways looked like relics of another time, rusted and lowered to their undercarriages after their tires melted.

The welcome sign at the saved Beacon Hill School had a cheery greeting left before the fire: “Welcome Ms. Tebay to the Bears family.”

Leaving the neighbourhood, the intercom crackled once more, and Allen spoke in his clear, lilting voice, with a message for the people of Fort McMurray.

“You might be seeing images today of the area you lived, and indeed images of where your home was,” he said. “I just want everyone to know that . . . emergency staff gave our all. I truly believe we couldn’t do anymore.”

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The good news, he said, what that so much of the city was not touched by fire because first-responders were able to act quickly to fight a fire that jumped roads and rivers.

“It was an animal, like a fire I’ve never seen in my life,” he said.

As the bus wound through town, most of the city looked as it did before. Gas stations, hotels, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, and so many homes and industrial buildings still standing.

“Fort McMurray is still alive,” he continued. “We’re here. We’re ready for the future. When we get you back we can build a future together.”

The reporters on the bus clapped, and later, Allen came down the aisle, shaking each person’s hand, looked them in the eyes, and thanked them for coming.

“I feel more nervous today, than during the fire,” he told the Star as reporters disembarked in the Abasand neighbourhood. “When the fire was going, I was powered by trying to save people, trying to save property. Now I’m just faced with having to talk to cameras. It’s not what I’m good at.”

Later, at the press conference, he reiterated his discomfort with the spotlight. He wouldn’t say the word hero, instead calling it “word that begins with h,” and noting that it shouldn’t apply to him.

“I would state quite clearly this fire is nothing about me. This is about the hundred and hundreds of people who came here and helped us and supported us,” he said.

More on thestar.com:

In the line of fire: Amazing stories from the men, women on the frontlines in Fort McMurray

Pet rescuers set on reaching Fort McMurray animals despite no-go order

Insurance firms’ mobile units begin taking claims from Alberta wildfire victims

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