Smoke — including the smell and taste of it — filled the air as far north as the La. 27 Beulah Curve Wednesday morning. That is more than 20 miles from where fires still burn in the northwest corner of Beauregard Parish.

One DeQuincy resident said she could see the glow of the fire from her porch the night before. A Singer resident voluntarily evacuated ahead of a mandatory order when she saw the fire nearing her home.

Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for certain Singer and Merryville residents. Roads were closed to through traffic.

About 50 firefighters — some volunteer, some paid and many of whom have been working around the clock — received instruction from Ward Six District Fire Chief and Calcasieu Emergency Response Training Supervisor Todd Parker at the Singer Water Company, 9080 La. 27 before heading out to contain the fire. Medical services personnel were also on hand.

Staging and other locations, proper communications and other orders were issued.

“If anyone requires medical services, I need you to report immediately,” Parker told responders.

He and other personnel have been in touch with emergency personnel in Baton Rouge and Texas cities, and planes are scheduled to dump thousands of gallons of water on the fire later today.

“The size of the fire is six miles across at the head,” Parker said, “and two miles across at the heel and has been flanked at the west.”

Dozers have turned  7-lane fire lanes through the woods, according to Parker. Firefighters are patrolling for spot fires.

“We haven’t got the head wrapped,” Parker said, “but we do have a north wind now.”