The series of wildfires began on Sunday morning, 12 April in Khakassia as intentional fires set to clear grass for agriculture were caught by strong winds and got out of control.

[citation needed] Separately, 86 wildfires were reported in Zabaykalsky Krai from 13–14 April.

Visibility was reduced to 200–300 m.[2] Eyewitnesses described the scene as "an apocalypse" as Chita was filled with smoke for days.

[4] According to The Kremlin, Vladimir Putin personally took charge of coordinating disaster response.

[3] Livestock losses were estimated at 5,000 cattle and sheep, with the possibility of more deaths from starvation due to lack of grass to eat.

Alexei Yaroshenko, a Greenpeace forest expert, demanded that Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov and regional Governor Viktor Zimin be punished for the incident.

[5] Deputy Emergency Minister Alexander Chupriyan blamed carelessness by citizens saying, "This fire would not have happened if no one played with matches.