"High winds and a dry spring fueled blazes that have torn through villages in Russia."

"At least 10 people are dead and hundreds of homes and buildings are destroyed after wildfires ripped through eastern Siberia this weekend. High winds, officials said, both helped cause the fires and spread them out of control, after downed power lines short-circuited and sparked the flames, which were then blown across the area.

The winds reached speeds of up to 131 feet (40 meters) per second, which prevented aircraft from assisting the 300 firefighters and 90 vehicles on the ground, the region’s emergency service said. In addition to the 10 deaths, 11 other people were taken to hospitals for injuries sustained in the fires, Reuters reported.

Krasnoyarsk regional governor Alexandre Uss said he’d given the order to cut off electricity in the region except for certain crucial services to prevent more fires.

“We have called for help from neighbouring territories, but are aware that will, in the best case, not arrive for some hours,” he told reporters."

Molly Taft reports for Earther May 9, 2022. [2]