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Life is Priceless. Donate to NSW RFS Firefighters.

Tax deductible
In NSW, there are two fire services: Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) handling mainly metropolitan areas for all different emergency requests, and the NSW Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS) covering approximately 95% of NSW's landmass, predominantly responding to bushfires.  Today, they are working together to protect the entire state from the growing bushfires. 

A snippet above from our firefighters at FRNSW: "Station 509 Wyoming recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra at 3pm today. The crew was forced to shelter in their truck as the fire front passed through. The crew are okay."

This fundraiser is for the NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Trust (NSW RFS).  NSW RFS have the world's largest volunteer fire service network (approximately 70% of staff are, or have been volunteers) and together with FRNSW, they have been battling mammoth bushfires for the last two months now, with no near end in sight. 

On 1 January 2020, across NSW in Australia, there are currently 120 bushfires burning with 68 out of control.  More than 900 homes are already lost, thousands of people are displaced and an estimated 480 million animals have perished in these raging fires.

Since the start of the Australian bush fire season this year, over 3.6 million hectares have burned and are still burning in NSW, with another 1 million hectares burned in SA, QLD and Victoria and 1.2 million hectares in WA.

What does 3.6 million hectares look like?

This area is the equivalent land size of Belgium; the entire US state of Hawaii, plus some; or twice the size of Fiji.  And that's just the fires in NSW alone.

On a comparable scale, the 2018 Californian fires consumed 1.8 million hectares and the 2019 Amazon fires are estimated to have burned through 900,000 hectares.  The bushfires in Australia are not what we have experienced in years.  They are considered 'catastrophic' - significantly larger in scale and size, and at times unmanageable for those that are fighting to put them out. 

With 3,000+ firefighters in the field, I cannot even comprehend the risk these people are taking to save nearby homes and protecting the livelihood of others.  In the process, there have been casualties, which I know is gut wrenching for the respective families and I extend my sincere condolences.

In search for ways in which I could donate, an online document referenced the NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Trust received A$768,044 in public donations during the 2017/2018 financial year.  There are 2,002 NSW RFS brigades, so that's only A$385 per brigade annually (if divided evenly).  There are 335 FRNSW brigades across NSW.

Our paid and volunteer firefighters deserve any contribution you're willing to make, no matter how big or small - even just $2 can make a difference.  My heart goes out to all our firefighters from the different brigades - their bravery, courage and resilience is immeasurable.

Your donation will assist in purchasing equipment for use by NSW Rural Fire Brigades across the state, and the continued safety these firefighters provide.

If preferred, donations can be made directly to RFS and your local brigade, or you can view more information about this fundraiser specifically in support of The Trustee For NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund.

I could not find details online on how to donate directly to Fire and Rescue NSW.  As per their website: "The core activities of FRNSW are funded by a mix of funding from state and local government and the insurance industry.  We do not solicit donations for our own core activities... and only accept donations (usually in the form of sponsorship) for certain activities."

#NSWFires #ProtectTheIrreplaceable #AustraliaBurns #AustraliaFires #Australia

Fundraising team (7)

Jacqueline Langford
Organizer
Haymarket NSW
The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically tax deductible in Australia.
Emily Williams
Team member
Heidi Tatlock
Team member
Jennifer P
Team member
Kathy Gomez
Team member

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