CREIGHTON — Trina Quinn and her family were among approximately 1,200 people evacuated from Creighton on May 28.
Quinn shared her experience with SaskToday, saying that at noon that day, she received an update that Creighton was on a pre-evacuation alert.
“By 3 p.m. that same day, my supervisor informed me that an immediate evacuation had been announced,” said Quinn. “I had seen how close the fire was to the community on Monday, and that was when I started to prepare for a possible evacuation. I grew up in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan, so I know how quickly you need to act during an evacuation.”
Quinn said they ensured both vehicles were filled with gas and had cash on hand.
“By 4:30 p.m., we were in the convoy, driving towards The Pas, Manitoba”
Quinn evacuated with her husband and their dog. They took two vehicles in case someone needed a ride along the way.
“By the time we got to the highway, we didn’t see any hitchhikers, but if anyone had been stranded, we were ready to help.”
She added that evacuations are always stressful—not only do you have to focus on your family but also stay mindful of others going through the same experience.
“Many people have never gone through something like this before,” she said.
When asked about communication from the government, Quinn said, “I have to say the Town of Creighton’s administration team has done a great job keeping us informed with the information they received, as far as I know. People with their own transportation either left through Manitoba or waited for further instruction from the town.”
People without transportation were instructed to meet at the Sportex at 8 a.m. on May 29 to board buses to evacuation centres across Saskatchewan.
“They told us to register with the SPSA [Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency] and shared a link on social media,” Quinn said.
“I can’t speak for those who aren’t on social media or don’t have cellphones, but I personally felt I was given timely information. That said, there was a lot of confusion around accessing resources. Many evacuees who went to Manitoba couldn’t get help and were told to return to Saskatchewan for support.”
The SPSA had set up accommodations in Weyburn, including meals for Creighton evacuees.
“A lot of people couldn’t make that trip due to financial barriers or lack of transportation. Some stayed with family in Manitoba. It was confusing—who knew an invisible border could create so many problems?”
Quinn and her family chose to go to Hudson Bay on the day of the evacuation. Although they left Creighton at 4:30 p.m., they didn’t arrive until after midnight due to heavy traffic. The trip typically takes 4.5 hours.
“We’ve decided to stay here. It’s been very welcoming, and we’ve made new friends. I love it here, but home is where the heart is.”
When asked what she learned from the experience, Quinn emphasized the importance of having transportation and a plan for pets.
“If you don’t have a vehicle, you’ll have to take the bus, and unfortunately, pets aren’t allowed. Leave out food and water for them, and hide a key outside. Sometimes personnel who remain behind can do pet checks. We were lucky Creighton had that support. A spare key helps those people access your home.”
In a June 11 update, the Town of Creighton stated, “SPSA said no structures have been lost. Crews are continuing to monitor and clean up the community. Both highways remain manned with roadblocks and are only open to essential workers. The mandatory evacuation order is still in effect. No unauthorized individuals should return to the area. Essential services are in the process of being restored.”
