Nova Scotians tell emotional stories of escape from Fort McMurray wildfire

For the hundreds of families displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire, the past couple of days have been traumatic and heartbreaking.

So for the ones who get to return home to the Maritimes, a warm hug from their worried family is priceless.

Barry Marriott is from St. Margaret’s Bay, however his job landed him in the middle of the frantic evacuation from the burning city.

READ MORE: NS father writes emotional Facebook post about fleeing Fort McMurray wildfire

WATCH: Several Nova Scotians arrived in Halifax on Thursday after fleeing the Fort McMurray wildfire earlier this week.

1:50 Nova Scotians make emotional return from Fort McMurray

“The houses were burnt on the sides of the road from the west side of the highway,” Barry said Thursday as he greeted his wife at the airport in Halifax.

He choked up, the emotions overwhelming, as he recalled his hours-long drive to escape the flames, looking out at his neighbour’s homes burning to the ground.

 “How devastating [it] was just to see those images? It was the kids and the families at the camps,” he said before stepping away to take a moment to collect himself.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter:  "How devastating [it] was just to see those images? It was the kids and the families at the camps," he said before stepping away to take a moment to collect himself.

Terrifying couple of days

Jeremy David, originally from Cape Breton, now calls Fort McMurray “home.”

David also spent hours fleeing the worsening fire on Tuesday, leaving everything behind but what’s in a suitcase.

READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Dashcam video shows tense moments as Beacon Hill residents escape flames

“We went about 30 kilometres in three hours,” he said upon arriving home in Nova Scotia. “I will never forget that.”

“It was one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was one of the worst things I've ever experienced."

WATCH: A devastating wildfire has forced the evacuation of the entire city of Fort McMurray

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Images of homes on fire and city buildings flattened to the ground were heartbreaking for Christine Thorne, who now lives in Hammonds Plains, but lived in Fort McMurray for several years.

“It’s been very terrifying, especially watching my friends on social media — what they are going through — because it’s a really wonderful city and wonderful people there,” she said, crying.

WATCH: Maritimers are starting to return home after fleeing the wildfires in Fort McMurray. Global’s Dave Squires was at Halifax International Airport for their emotional reunions.

1:59 Fort McMurray evacuees return home to Maritimes

The federal government announced on Thursday that they would match dollar-for-dollar all donations made through the Canadian Red Cross to the Fort McMurray relief effort.

As well, Stephen McNeil said Wednesday that should the Alberta government make the call, they will have supplies, firefighters, and anything they can offer at the ready to send to help the province get back on its feet.

-With files from Dave Squires.