Wildfires burning across Russia have killed at least 40 people. More than 22-hundred residents are now homeless.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared a state of emergency in seven regions and ordered authorities to guard arsenals from the blazes.

The fire caused more than 2-hundred million US Dollars in damage. The fires come after weeks of searing heat and practically no rain. A top emergency official, says there is not enough professional firefighters to go around.

Temperatures in Moscow, the south and east, where the blazes are concentrated are forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius. Putin says he would personally supervise the reconstruction of fire-ravaged homes.