Former Airdrie resident and current Fort McMurray evacuee Olivia Condon was forced to evacuate her home and city on Tuesday May 3.

Due to a catastrophic out-of-control forest fire the order was given for a mandatory evacuation of the entire city.

Condon, currently the managing editor of Fort McMurray Today and former employee with AIR 106.1/DiscoverAirdrie.com says the city is decimated.

"You can imagine what it looks like for 60,000 people to try to head south on the 63 (Highway). They've opened up both directions...for people to get out of town but the city itself is decimated".

Condon describes it in biblical proportions.

"I've described it as the seven levels of Hell. It's hot, everything seems to be on fire. A sign that says Welcome to Fort McMurray that I know has been there for probably 60 years was on fire when I was driving by.

It's something out of a nightmare. The smoke itself is very thick and it smells like a campfire but to the extreme.

It's hard to breath...I think we're sitting at about 30 degrees but it's probably closer to 40 degrees within the city.

It's sad..I'm very sad and I'm concerned there might not be much for us to go back to.

Emergency evacuation centres have been set up in surrounding communities to help deal with the 60,000+ evacuees.

Firefighters continue to combat the raging inferno.

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