Metallica pledges $515,000 to Australian firefighters
Metallica performs at the All Within My Hands concert and auction at the Masonic in San Francisco on Nov. 11, 2018. Courtesy.
More than 15 million acres of brushland has burned in Australia, according to the BBC, with 24 people confirmed killed and an estimated 1 billion animals killed. The country is experiencing record-breaking heat on top of a severe drought.
In the worst-affected state, New South Wales, about 130 fires have burned 12 million acres and destroyed 1,300 homes as of Tuesday, the news network reported. The state of Victoria has also been hit hard, with nearly 2 million acres burned, several killed and dozens of homes destroyed. About 1,000 people who had run to the see in one town had to be rescued by the Australian navy.
Metallica and its All Within My Hands Foundation, founded following several deadly and destructive fires in California, on Tuesday pledged A$750,000 (roughly $515,000 USD) to firefighting organizations in New South Wales and Victoria.
The band is also asking its fans to donate as much as they can at the links below.
“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 band said in a news release. “The resulting destruction and devastating effects on all residents, animals, the environment and the incredible land in Australia is truly heartbreaking.”
The found will to to the New South Wales 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. CFA is also a volunteer-run fire and emergency services organization that protects 3.3 million Victorians. All funds donated now will go to firefighting services and to people affected.
We spoke to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich in 2018 about how he was impacted by the North Bay fires of 2017.