By Baptist Message staff
MERRYVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief crews have been deployed to minister to those impacted by wildfires in the Merryville-Singer area.
According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, a feeding unit will serve lunch at First Baptist Church, Singer, to firefighters and other first responders on Aug. 23 and chaplains will be on hand. Additionally, LBDR will distribute bottled water and Gatorade to those impacted by the fires.
Beauregard Baptist Association Mission Strategist Tom Bruce said that Green Oak Baptist Church, Merryville, and Dry Creek Baptist Camp have offered their facilities to shelter evacuees and that FBC Singer will serve as a cooling station for first responders.
The fire broke out Aug. 22 near Highway 110 between Merryville and Singer. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation Wednesday morning for residents on Neale Oil Field Road, where the fire was just one-half mile away Wednesday. Additionally, a voluntary evacuation had been issued for the town of Merryville as crews continue to battle the wildfire.
Wildfires have been an issue in Louisiana with the ongoing lack of rainfall.
In mid-August, LBDR teams prepared 545 meals at First Baptist Church, Florien, that were distributed to those impacted by fires in Sabine Parish. Teams also recorded 13 Gospel presentations and the chaplains had contact with 65 individuals.
“We need to pray for the drought conditions to lessen,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Also, pray for the wildfires to go away, for the first responders who are doing their best to battle the fires and for the farmers who may have catastrophic losses from this drought.”
