Australia is being ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades, with large swathes of the country devastated since the fire season began late July.
Countless people have died, lost their homes - the human toll to these fires will last for years to come. Not to mention the estimated 500million animals which have perished due to these fires.
Scroll through the donation options below to help the fire crews managing these fires, the communities they've destroyed and the re-homing of injured animals (those who've been saved).
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.
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.
You can also hold a fundraiser for the fire authorities, or donate to a fundraiser.
However, the NSW RFS advises that you should donate only to verified fundraisers. That’s also true for those setting up fundraisers – get authorisation from the RFS first.
“It’s important that fundraising activities are conducted in a way that is transparent and aligns with the values of the NSW RFS,”
To hold a fundraising event, you should email them at executive.support@rfs.nsw.gov.au.
You’ll also need to provide information on your group, how you will raise funds and what portion will be donated, and the specifics of any item being sold or donated.
The RFS said it had been flooded with requests to hold fundraisers, so it might take some time to respond.
The Victoria CFA also has a fundraising kit here, with information on how to host one.
Enquiries can be directed to cfapromotions@cfa.vic.gov.au or 1800 232 233.
What about for areas that no longer have active fires, but have been hard hit? There are a range of ways to help.
You can donate to some of the charities who routinely help with recovery: the Red Cross Relief and Recovery Appeal, St Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army.
You can also donate, provide items or volunteer at specific evacuation centres – a list can be found here. In general it is always better to give money to the charities that organise assistance, rather than donating in kind, unless there is a specific request for certain items, or if you have checked in advance what may be required.
Each centre may have different needs, so it is important not to arrive unannounced with goods to donate.
Queensland Fire and Rescue also advice that you can volunteer your time to the bushfire effort.
“The best way you can help is to check on the safety of your loved ones, neighbours and friends and help them however you can,” it says.
You can also formally register as a volunteer at Emergency Volunteering. You can also call Volunteering Queensland on 1800 994 100.