Jan. 4, 2020
Jan. 4, 2020
Australia bushfires: Fundraiser reaches A$20m in 48 hours
BBC.com, Jan. 5, 2020
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50997406
(How to donate – see below.)
A fundraiser for fire services in New South Wales, Australia has raised more than A$20 million (£10.6m; $13m) in just 48 hours, as the state battles a bushfire crisis.
Australian comedian Celeste Barber launched the Facebook appeal on Friday, writing: “Please help any way you can. This is terrifying.”
At least 24 people have died since the fires began in September.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called up 3,000 reserve troops to help.
In Canberra, the air quality has been ranked as the worst in the world, and residents have been told to avoid leaving their homes.
Australian airline Qantas has cancelled flights to and from the city for the remainder of Sunday.
An ‘incredible’ response
Comedian Ms Barber has family who were evacuated from the town of Eden in New South Wales, where officials told residents to leave immediately and head north if they did not have a bushfire response plan.
She called the rush of donations “incredible”, and said the proceeds would go to NSW Rural Fire Service and the Brigades Donations Fund.
A number of celebrities have also donated money to support the fire-fighting effort in recent days – among them US singer Pink, and Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, who pledged $500,000.
Almost 200 fires are still burning across the country. Although much attention has centred on worst-hit NSW, every state and territory has been affected. More than 1,200 homes have been destroyed and millions of hectares of land scorched.
Tens of thousands of homes in NSW and Victoria states are currently without power. Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns over the past week.
Bushfires Australia: how you can donate and help the volunteer firefighters
Guardian, Dec. 21, 2019
Donating directly
The NSW Rural Fire Service has multiple options for direct donations. You can donate to the RFS as a whole, or to specific brigades. You can donate through bank transfer, credit card or cheque.
For bank transfers, there is a set bank account (Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service, BSB: 032-001, Account No: 171051). This account is for the RFS as a whole.
For credit cards, this link will take you to the landing page. You can choose specific brigades from a dropdown box, or donate to the RFS general fund.