Metallica pledges $750k to Australian wildfire relief | The Music Universe

Judy Moreno

Three-quarters of a million dollars will go to NSW Rural Fire Service and Victoria Country Fire Authority

Metallica is pledging three-quarters of a million dollars to the Australian wildfire relief. The money will be donated the group’s All Within My Hands Foundation to end relief efforts Down Under.

“We are totally overwhelmed by the news of the wildfires sweeping through millions of acres across Australia, with major impact in New South Wales and Victoria. The resulting destruction and devastating effects on all residents, animals, the environment and the incredible land in Australia is truly heartbreaking,” the band shares a statement.

“Please join us and do whatever you can to assist as we, along with our foundation All Within My Hands, are pledging A$750,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service and to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria to aid in the relief efforts.”

NSW RFS is the world’s largest volunteer firefighting organization and all funds donated during this State of Emergency are directed toward services related to and victims of these particularly destructive Australian bushfires.

CFA (Country Fire Authority) is a volunteer and community based fire and emergency services organization which helps to protect 3.3 million Victorians, and works together with communities to keep Victorians safe from fire and other emergencies.

Twenty-four people have been killed and more than one thousand homes have been destroyed by the devastating fires that have been burning since September 2019 due to drought and extreme heat. Areas near Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and New Castle are among the more than 32,000 square miles affected by the extensive burning, according to NBC News. Experts suggest one billion wildlife have been killed by the four-long blaze that’s affecting the entire country.

Keith Urban and Elton John are among the other musicians who have pledged money towards relief efforts. Urban and wife Nicole Kidman, both Australian natives, have pledged $500k while John, who is on the Australian leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, announced a $1 million pledge during his Sydney show. Pink is also donating $500k towards the fire departments with Selena Gomez sharing a link on how to help those in need.