SitePoint is selling 5 downloadable PDF books for $29.95 (total!) in an effort to raise money for bushfire relief. If you’re not familiar with the fires ravaging through Australia, there’s a summary below.

I already have almost every SitePoint book written and still contributed. 100% of the proceeds go to help the bushfire victims. It’s a no-brainer – go buy the books now.

On Saturday the 7th of February Victoria had its hottest day ever on record, peaking at 47.3 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit), with hot gusts of wind travelling at over 100kmh (60mph). The fire danger rating climbed to 400, where a rating of 100 indicates an uncontrollable fire.

The bushfires that occurred in the rural areas around Melbourne [2] are considered to be the worst in Australian history and rank among the worst in the world [3]. More than 170 people have lost their lives, 5,000 are now homeless, and several small towns have been completely destroyed. These numbers are expected to grow as fires continue to burn.

SitePoint staff members have been personally affected by this disaster; friends have lost their properties, their homes, and their lives.

SitePoint staff were unanimous in wanting to make a substantial contribution; the bushfire emergency relief effort has seen an unprecedented response to a natural disaster in Victoria, and we want to do our part. The Australian Red Cross has announced that money is what’s most needed [4], and no administration costs will be deducted from donations to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

So we’re taking one day, working around the clock to plan, package, and execute our best book deal ever in order to raise funds for the Red Cross as soon as possible. Our ambitious plan is to raise over US$50,000. Every single cent generated from this promotion will go directly to the bushfire relief effort—so if you spend $29.95 purchasing 5 books from SitePoint, the whole $29.95 will go directly to supporting this cause. We feel that’s the least we can do.

The money raised will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009. It will go to aid the many Victorians whose homes, livelihoods, and loved ones have been lost [5], and who are now faced with the struggle of rebuilding their lives.