Hero staff of Blagoveschensk cardio centre had just cut open the patient’s chest when a major fire began.
But is climate change to blame, or local officials who went on vacation instead of fighting fires?
Roads blocked, planes diverted due to low visibility, schools shut, people advised to stay home.
At least three are dangerously close to population centres in Irkutsk region.
Plane, three fire trains and 5,000 people fighting as dry grass ignites 'like gunpowder'.
'Scary' scenes as fumes from burning forests cover Lake Baikal, with people - and bears - fleeing 'Apocalypse'.
Hundreds - including dozens of children - evacuated safely as fires destroy and threaten homes.
Oilmen forced to stop work after being trapped in 'horseshoe' of burning taiga, as pall of smoke smothers Irkutsk region where state of emergency imposed.
New technology to be tested on heating stations in eastern Russia.
Pristine forests around the world's oldest lake go up in flames.