Australia is burning. Thousands of

homes have been destroyed, several people have lost their lives defending their properties or trying to flee the flames, many are still missing, and the country's wildlife population is quickly diminishing.

While firefighters from Australia, New Zealand and Canada do all they can on the front line of the blazes spanning numerous states, many were trying to do their part by donating money, clothes and food for those displaced.

Numerous fundraising appeals had been launched, including one by Australian comedian Celeste Barber, which had raised A$32.2 million (NZ$33.5m) at the time of publication. American singer Pink donated US$500,000 (NZ$751,145), as did Australians Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban; while Kiwi choreographer Parris Goebel pledged $20 for every share of her Instagram post, which was raising awareness of the fires.

Australian tennis players were also pledging money to the various causes. Nick Kyrgios started a movement in the tennis community, pledging A$200 (NZ$208) for every ace he hit at the summer events, and Ash Barty said she would donate the A$382,000 (NZ$398,341) prize money from the Brisbane International if she won.

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Here are some ways Kiwis can help those affected by the bushfires and those battling them.

NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE

Donations to the NSW RFS benefit the volunteer firefighters working around the state by providing them with necessary equipment such as masks.

The state's fire service was also accepting donations for the families of the three volunteer fireman who lost their lives while battling the blazes - Samuel McPaul, 28, who died on duty near Albury, leaving behind his pregnant wife; Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, who died on December 19 near Sydney, they both left behind partners and young children.

VICTORIA'S COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY

The state's fire authority launched a bushfire relief fund and were asking for donations to help "provide relief and recovery in the fire affected areas", according to its website. The funds would aid those in East Gippsland and Hume.

The website explained money was preferred over clothes and other items.

RURAL FIRE BRIGADES ASSOCIATION QLD

The Queensland fire brigade association was accepting donations online. All money received went to the "brave men and women that support our communities". 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S CFS FOUNDATION

The CFS Foundation provided aid and assistance to volunteer firefighters who died or were injured, and who suffered loss or damage while in the line of service.

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS

The Australian Red Cross, in partnership with media outlet ABC, launched its disaster appeal for those affected by the bushfires in July 2019.

According to its website, teams had supported over 18,600 people across the country. They were now working to help those in evacuation centres and recovery hubs.

Donations would be used to provide emergency assistance to those who lost their homes, to create longer-term recovery programmes, to offer psychological first aid to reduce trauma, and to support volunteers and help communities prepare for future disasters.

The Red Cross was unable to accept or distribute donated goods at the moment.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Vinnies, in partnership with the Nine Network in Australia, also launched a bushfire appeal. Monetary donations would be used to provide affected families with food, financial aid, clothing, and shelter.

A$50 (NZ$52) could provide food for an evacuated family, while A$1100 (NZ$1147) could set up a home with bedding, furniture and appliances.

"Your donation enables us to be there for the long haul, helping families to move back home and replaced damaged furniture," its website read.

SALVATION ARMY DISASTER APPEAL

The Salvation Army Emergency Services teams were deployed to provide meals to evacuees and frontline responders.

Donations to this cause would allow these teams to "deliver crucial support right when it's needed". It would also allow them to stay as long as needed in the communities that need help.

"[We] will continue to provide whatever support is needed as the situation develops," said Salvation Army's general manager of strategic emergency and disaster management Major Topher Holland.

GIPPSLAND EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

This appeal was collecting donations for those affected in Gippsland, a region in Victoria that stretched from Melbourne's eastern suburbs northward to the NSW border.

All donations received were returned to the community, helping those who were injured or suffered loss or damage from the fires and other natural disasters.

GIVIT

Australian charity GIVIT worked with government agencies, councils and other not-for-profit organisations to identify the immediate needs of those impacted by natural disasters. It was currently running two bushfire support campaigns in NSW and six in Queensland.

People could donate money to the organisation so essential items could be purchased for those affected. For Kiwis living in Australia, the charity was also accepting material donations – deodorant, fences, water tank hoses, for example – and asking for people to donate their time and skills to help rebuild communities.

WIRES

The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) launched an emergency fund to aid the rescue and recovery of wildlife injured by the fires.

It was estimated about half a billion animals had perished in the fires.

International donors reportedly had some issues donating through the WIRES website, so a Facebook fundraising page was also created by the service. It had raised A$2.9m (NZ$3.02m) at the time of publication.

WWF

The fundraising appeal created by WWF focused on the country's koala population.

Donations of any amount were accepted on its website to aid the restoration of the species once the fires were contained.

"The catastrophic megafires are worsening the extinction crisis we're already facing.

"When the fires clear, we will need to restore what has been lost," the website read.

ORT MACQUARIE KOALA HOSPITAL

The hospital in NSW had raised A$3.5m (NZ$3.65m) for injured koalas at the time of publication. It was collecting money through crowd-funding website Go Fund Me.

The funds were being used to buy and install automatic drinking stations for the animals and to create a wild koala breeding programme.

An estimated 350 koalas died in Port Macquarie in November 2019.

AIRBNB

The accommodation company's Open Homes programme had been activated for those in Victoria and NSW. People with Airbnb listings in the areas indicated on the website were able to offer free and temporary housing to those who need it most.