The wildfires in Australia continue to rage out of control. Per The Guardian, more than 150 fires continue to burn across New South Wales and about 50 fires continue to burn in Victoria.
There has not only been vast damage to the landscape, but families have had their homes and property destroyed, as well as fatalities and several people still missing. The fires are reportedly behaving erratically, generating their own weather systems and thunderstorms.
The Australian state has declared a bushfire emergency:In a statement, Professor Dickman, an expert on Australian biodiversity at the University of Sydney and the individual who calculated the tragic statistic said:
"We've estimated that in the three million hectares of New South Wales alone that were burned up until about 10 days ago probably as many as 480 million mammals, birds and reptiles would have been affected by the fires."
But as much of the world watches on helplessly, fire departments across the country are continuing to battle the blazes round the clock - inspiring many to donate to the brave men and women dedicated to finally extinguishing the fires.
One person who has donated a considerable sum is 40-year-old singer Pink, who had pledged $500,000 (£382,000) to the Australian fire departments that are "battling so hard on the frontlines".
The singer took to Twitter to write to her 32.2 million followers: "I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz"
Pink also shared links to the local departments and has urged others to donate (links below).
Unsurprisingly, many of Pink's fans tweeted their love and thanks for the singer:
One reply from Twitter user Kellie Campione read: "Thankyou so much @Pink my family has lost an uncle & still one missing with these fires. this means so much we need all the help we can get. #PrayingForRain"
Per the Metro, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has explained the situation and revealed that the worst is still yet to come: "We are in for a long night and we are still to hit the worst of it. It’s a very volatile situation."
How you can donate:
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.
This link will take you to the landing page for credit card donations. You can donate to the RFS general fund or choose specific brigades from the dropdown box.
In Queensland, Fire and Rescue advise that you can donate both money and items through the website givit.org.au. The website allows fire-affected communities to list what they specifically need, from water tanks in Yeppoon to school uniforms in Zillmere.
In Victoria, the Country Fire Authority has two bank accounts - one for specific brigades and one for the general fund.
In South Australia, the Country Fire Service accepts donations through the CFS Foundation. You can donate to them here. You can also leave a bequest.
If you cannot find the particular brigade you are looking for, you can contact them directly.