The Aussie Bushfires: How you can help
Last weekend I was horrified to fly over the bushfires and see the land lit up in flames beneath me. This week the death toll has reached 3 and the fires continue to blaze at emergency level. That’s not to mention those who are missing or injured, or the 2 firefighters who have been hospitalised after a burning tree fell on their truck on the north coast. 61 fires are burning in NSW, and 51 are active in QLD, with 4 emergency warnings already being sounded. The current weather is a nightmare for controlling the fires - it’s hot, the winds are strong, and with the dry conditions from the drought, the fires are advancing rapidly. NSW has been put under the ‘catastrophic’ fire warning category – the highest level on the scale.
With conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, you may be wondering what you can do to help. Here are a few places you can donate your money to assist struggling communities, firefighters and our beautiful wildlife who have been hurt and stranded:
GIVIT QLD and NSW Fires
The QLD State Government has set up their own website for people wanting to help support those affected by the bushfires. This is a great portal because you can choose to donate to the QLD fires, the NSW fires, or both, as well as choosing whether to donate specific items identified by those who need it, such as mattresses and bedding items, or to donate money. The GIVIT website states “100% of funds received by GIVIT are used to purchase locally, where possible, what is needed as communities recover and rebuild.”
Rural Fire Brigades are more than just an emergency service. They can also be a vital community service, provide a local meeting point or offer assistance with non-emergency roles. For this reason, many people choose to donate to their local Rural Fire Brigade. Many Rural Fire Brigades are conducting fundraising activities at community events, like coin collections or BBQs. These proceeds go directly to assisting the brigade. Please contact your local brigade or visit this link to donate funds directly.
It is impossible to estimate the number of native animals that have already been killed or how many more will be lost in the fires, or even to predict the impact that this additional loss of habitat on top of the drought will have on our native, wild populations. If you would like to help save our native wildlife and support their rehabilitation, please head to WIRES to give to their emergency fund.
The fires are devastating our bushland which, at the moment, has a high number of breeding koalas. There are fears as many as 350 koalas have already perished near Port Macquarie alone. The Koala Hospital is a welfare, research and education facility that will conduct search and rescue exercises, with surviving koalas brought in for treatment. They are raising money to distribute automatic drinking stations which will help wildlife survival. If enough money is raised, they will distribute to other koala habitat areas across the State. Please support this incredible facility by clicking here.
Unfortunately, the high winds and extreme temperatures mean they are either hopping, standing or hanging in the path of a potential disaster. Veterinarian Dr. Chris Brown has curated a list of how you can help save these Koalas:
1. In extreme heat, wildlife (like koalas) will be thirsty. A Sydney University study found that water stations (like water fountains and troughs) are a lifesaver as leaves alone won’t keep koalas hydrated. These water stops are even more crucial in areas recovering from fire and benefit huge numbers of animals.
2. Donate to the wildlife charities.
3. Donate any hydration solutions, burn creams, bandages, nutritional replacement formulas, syringes and bedding. Other supplies that are needed to help injured wildlife include wombaroo formulas, good quality bird food, di-vetalact, macropod pellets, wombaroo impact, vetafarm spark liquid & critter care, feeding bottles & teats, baby wipes, paw paw ointment, sorbolene and pure vitamin E cream.
4. Keep an eye out for firebugs.
If you’re ALREADY in a fire affected area and encounter injured wildlife:
1. Ensure it’s safe to be there.
2. Take photos of the animal, note your location and call a wildlife rescuer.
3. Keep handling to a minimum because animals in shock can die from stress.
4. If you know what you’re doing, you may carefully approach and move the animal into a cardboard box or other container using gloves, a towel or a t-shirt. Make sure you keep this box in a well-ventilied and cool spot while you transfer them to a clinic.
5. If they are burnt or injured, do not offer water or food. In a crisis situation they will need specialised diets and fluids.
Thank you in advance for your support of these organisations, and for making a difference in fighting the fires ravaging our landscapes right now. My thoughts are support are with all those affected by the bushfires, and I am incredibly grateful to the brave and selfless volunteers working tirelessly to keep the fires at bay.
Dara x