A junior employee of the Yura Museum of Local Lore goes on an expedition in search of a rare ground squirrel, but witnesses the burning of the forest. He brings photos of the arsonists to the local newspaper and, by coincidence, stays there. With each editorial assignment, Yura becomes more and more aware that the reality does not coincide at all with what is written in the newspapers – and then begins his own investigation into who benefits from it and why the forests are burning.