Celeste Barber bushfire fund an 'once in a lifetime' windfall for RFS

The NSW Rural Fire Service will use the $51 million raised by celebrity Celeste Barber to buy much needed equipment and support packages for firefighters and their families, according to NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers. The Supreme Court has ruled the money Ms Barber helped to raise for bushfire victims cannot be passed on to other charities. More than a million people donated to Celeste Barber's bushfire campaign when the last season's devastating fire season was at its height, believing the money could go to a range of charities. However the comedian nominated the 'NSW RFS and Brigades Donation Fund' when she launched her campaign in January. The court has subsequently ruled some of the money can support injured firefighters and the families of those who lost their lives fighting the blazes. Ms Barber has welcomed the decision, writing on Twitter "the money will be in very grateful and capable hands." Mr Rogers told Sky News the $51 million is a "once in a life time" windfall for the Rural Fire Service. "This money will give us some long standing protection for our members," he said. "If you look at the simple maths, with the size of our organisation of around 70,000 people, you look at $200 a helmet, I think that's around $14 million as it is". "For us to roll these things out very quickly, and make sure we start to roll out ahead of the next fire season, will give our firefighters the absolute best protection." Image: Getty

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