Russia Deploys Emergency Crews to Siberia as Krasnoyarsk Wildfires Nearly Quadruple in Size

June 17, 2026 Firefighters battle a blaze in Russia. Russian Emergency Situations Ministry Authorities in Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region said Wednesday that they have reinforced emergency crews to combat a surge in wildfires. The total area consumed by the blazes has grown from 16,656 hectares (41,150 acres) on Saturday to 62,600 hectares (154,700 acres) as of Wednesday morning. The number of active fires is currently hovering around 90, with nearly all of them burning in remote, rugged terrain accessible only by air. Authorities have blamed the rapid spread on high temperatures and severe Siberian silkmoth infestations, which have killed off vast swaths of trees and left behind large amounts of highly flammable deadwood. “In total, over 1,400 specialists are actively fighting the blazes, backed by 30 aircraft and 30 pieces of specialized ground equipment,” the Krasnoyarsk wildfire center said in a statement. To bolster the local response, more than 350 personnel have been deployed from the neighboring republic of Buryatia and the Zabaikalsky region. Over the past 24 hours, emergency crews successfully extinguished 21 fires covering 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres) and halted the advancement of another 25 blazes in Krasnoyarsk, according to the regional wildfire center. Officials said they are using a “multi-layered” monitoring network of drones, satellites, video surveillance, ground patrols and aerial scouting to spot and extinguish new ignitions before they spread. “The situation remains fully under control, and there’s no threat to residential areas,” the regional wildfire center said in a post on VKontakte. The Krasnoyarsk region declared a wildfire emergency last Wednesday. Under the active emergency order, the public is barred from entering woodlands, lighting campfires, burning trash or grass and conducting any other fire-hazardous work. Read more about: Krasnoyarsk , Wildfires , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Wildfire Smoke Engulfs Siberian Towns More than 50 wildfires are active across nine municipal districts in the Krasnoyarsk region, officials said Monday. 2 Min read Both Pilots Dead After Small Aircraft Crashes in Remote Siberian Region The Soviet-designed Antonov An-2 aircraft went down around 5:00 p.m. local time in what officials described as a “hard landing,” authorities said. 1 Min read Wildfires in Zabaikalsky Region Inch Closer to Capital City Chita, with a population of 350,000, sits at the center of a federal-level state of emergency that has been in place for nearly a month. 2 Min read Major Fires in Siberia, Far East Mark Ominous Start to Russia’s 2025 Wildfire Season Experts agree that Russian authorities — like in previous years — remain ill-prepared for the 2025 wildfire season. 4 Min read