Forest infernos will be extinguished by the weekend, pledges government, as wildfires become political issue in Moscow.

One man's carelessness causes 'fire tornado' which destroys 59 houses, another avoidable blaze razes 17 homes, as state of emergency called.

Ideas are clearly needed for more effective ways of countering the annual wildfire scourge, as the trend remains towards drier and hotter summers.

But is climate change to blame, or local officials who went on vacation instead of fighting fires?

Ecology groups warn that the extent of fires in forests and taiga has been misreported by up to 159 times compared with satellite evidence of the grim facts.

Wildfires ablaze early in year due to lack of snow, posing threat to railway in Russian Far East.

Firefighters tenderly carry the little pigs to safety during four hour battle to extinguish fire.

Wildfires rage around Lake Baikal with 5,000-plus emergency workers deployed.

Residents complain of 'severe carbon monoxide poisoning' as satellite images show blanket of smoke across eastern Siberia.