Wildfires

Wildfires

Florida, USA - Parts of Miami-Dade County's skyline was hidden from view Monday as smoke from a growing 1,850-acre wildfire loomed over portions of the Florida county.

What started as a non-threatening and seemingly shrinking grass fire on Sunday, consuming fewer than 100 acres according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Al Cruz, grew to be more than 10 times that within the next 24 hours. By Monday night, the fire had burned nearly 2,000 acres and was 50% contained, the fire department said. High temperatures and gusty winds helped the fire spread.

Scotland - Fire crews have brought a 133-acre wildfire under control in the Western Isles. The two-and-a-half mile wide blaze broke out near Ranish on Lewis at 6pm on Monday. High winds fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread across crofts near the village.

Siberia, Update - Russia's chief emergency official says wildfires that have swept through parts of Siberia and engulfed towns in the Khakasia region last week have now killed 34 people and injured 7,500.

Speaking during a visit to Khakasia by President Vladimir Putin, Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said the fires destroyed about 1,400 homes and left 5,000 people homeless.

On the morning of April 21, the Siberian Federal District forestry department said that 53 fires were still burning across 101,073 hectares.