No matter what's happening in the world today, it's important to remember — people are people. And people have the ability to do good and change the world. As you likely know, Australia's been hit with wildfires that are destroying land and harming wildlife.
Koalas, in particular, are facing a big hit. A significant number of the koalas who lived on Kangaroo Island have been wiped out, which is extremely disappointing. Especially because those specific koalas were kept in a safe and guarded sanctuary in order to help the overall population grow. They were the only ones who weren't infected with chlamydia. That's right — more koalas have chlamydia than you may think.
But here's the good news — plenty of people are helping out. American firefighters took a plane to Australia just to help combat the dangerous flames. Even though they signed up for a dangerous profession, the fact that they're risking their lives to help a community so far away is awe-inspiring. It's just another reminder that we need to help one another, no matter what. We're all affected by this tragedy in some way.
Shane Fitzsimmons, who's the commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, shared the big moment on Twitter. It's a video you have to see.
Plenty of people are applauding the brave firefighters as they walk off the plane with bags that indicate that they might be staying for some time. "All gathered gave a spontaneous & lengthy round of applause, reflecting the gratitude & admiration we all have for their generosity," Shane said in the tweet.
The video was watched by people all over the world, giving some of them a pretty good cry. When a problem this large hits our planet, the best thing to do is bond together and try to fix it. Some of the Americans even look shocked at getting the recognition, even though it's well deserved.
This is also a big moment in history. According to HuffPost, the United States hasn't sent out firefighters to help Australia since 2010. The firefighters who are out there now aren't the only ones who'll be helping — 50 to 60 more will reportedly be sent out this week to contribute to the firefighting efforts.
The Los Angeles Times reports that America isn't the only country helping out. Canada has sent around 36 firefighters overseas to help battle the wildfires. It's truly a team effort, and hopefully, our planet will be better off for it. It may even inspire you to be a volunteer firefighter, if you're moved by their bravery.
The photos are incredibly touching — the ones from America, especially. It shows that the United States and Australia will be there for each other. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also reportedly has a warm connection with the US president, with Donald Trump saying that the alliance is "one of our oldest and one of our best."
Curious as to how these firefighters from the United States were selected? According to the Los Angeles Times, firefighters volunteered for it. But, that wasn't the only step. After those names were collected, each individual was vetted to make sure they were able to travel and had the experience to take on the responsibility.
The groups started leaving back on December 5. It seems crazy to think about it, but yes — the Australian fires have been going on for more than a month. The second group arrived in Australia on December 19. More groups followed, as more help was needed.
One of the best parts about this exchange is that both Australia and the United States have different "fire seasons" since our winter is Australia's summer. While fires can very well happen anywhere anytime, usually fires of this size happen only when there's a drought and extreme heat. That means that in case of a wildfire emergency during Australia's summertime, there are plenty of US firefighters ready and able to help, because it's winter in the States.
Australia was there for the United States before in the past. Back in 2018, 140 firefighters from both Australia and New Zealand flew into the United States to help handle the large wildfires that erupted in California and caused a extensive damage. They were known as the deadliest in American history.
The current fires are going to make Australian history for sure. HuffPost believes that over 1 billion animals have died based on the dangerous conditions, and that includes 30% of the koalas. Luckily, many of them have been rehomed. But it will still take some time to guarantee that the species isn't in trouble.
While a lot of focus has been rightfully put on the animals, humans have also lost their lives due to these fires. A reported 2,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and at least 25 people have died. It's going to take a lot of money and resources for Australia to recover from this disaster.
Curious about how to help? Plenty of places are asking for donations, and money is always appreciated. PBS suggests that you can donate money directly to Australian firefighting agencies, which is an excellent idea. As you know, they're on the front lines.
Save the Children is also collecting donations for children who may need a place to feel safe and talk about what's happening in their country. Just $8 can help set up a child-friendly area where children can try to cope with other children who are feeling upset over what's happening. Any amount of money helps.
Finally, koala fans can donate money to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. They're hoping to rehabilitate koalas and also create breeding areas to try and regenerate the population. They have a very popular GoFundMe page that's hoping to continue raising money to hydrate the koalas who have been exposed to the elements.
