Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel is ‘sending over American fire teams’ to help battle Australia’s bushfires – as she declares the situation an ‘international crisis’
Bethenny Frankel is offering a helping hand to firefighters battling the bushfires in Australia, which have so far killed 26 people and more than a billion animals.
The The Real Housewives of New York City, 49, revealed on he Today show on Friday that she will be sending fire teams and supplies to victims through her organisation BStrong, which provides emergency assistance to countries facing disasters.
‘We are amassing fire gear from all over the world and we are coordinating U.S. fire teams with Australian fire teams,’ she said.
Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel is ‘sending over American fire teams’ to help battle Australia’s bushfires – as she declares the situation an ‘international crisis’
She added: ‘We are going to bring over fire teams to be rotating, to be assessing the damage and to be making sure fires go out half way when it keeps getting hotter.’
Bethenny explained that the Australian bushfires are an ‘international problem because they affect our planet’.
‘I have a connection to Australia. I’ve been there many times. I love Australia. I have very good Australian friends. I am friends with [fundraiser and comedian] Celeste Barber, I am friends with Sia,’ she said.
‘I spent time in Australia and I love the country and I love the people, but this is an international, worldwide crisis that affects our planet.’
Giving back: Bethenny revealed she will be sending fire teams and supplies to victims, through her initiative BStrong during an interview on the Today show on Friday. Pictured with co-hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic
It comes after Bethenny outlined her plan to help Australia in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday.
‘My team is in strategy mode with a plan to effectively and efficiently aid Australia in this crisis, which affects our entire planet,’ she wrote.
‘Aside from my personal connection to and love for Australia, this is an international crisis.’
Assistance: Bethenny (pictured) went on to explain that the bushfires are an ‘international problem because they affect our planet’
Bethenny revealed she was in ‘direct talks with the executive directors of various Fire Services and working directly with them to enhance their workforce and equipment’.
She added: ‘We will visit shelters to distribute aid and cash cards to those who have lost everything. We will [also] provide aid for the suffering animals in need.
‘Please donate today on my bio-link so that we can all make a difference together. As always 100% of donations goes directly to aid firefighters and victims.’
‘Please donate today on my bio-link so that we can all make a difference together’: This comes after Bethenny took to Instagram to explain the work that her initiative is doing and to urge her fans to donate
The fires across Australia have so far claimed 26 lives, left an estimated billion animals dead and destroyed more than 1,600 homes.
In Victoria, bushfires have burnt more than 1.2 million hectares, isolating towns and destroying hundreds of properties.
In New South Wales, more than 5.2 million hectares has reportedly been destroyed in the state, while 2.5 million hectares has been burnt in Queensland.
Devastating: The fires across Australia have so far claimed 26 lives as well as destroyed more than 1600 homes and left around one billion animals dead