The ADF will help respond to fires raging in Victoria’s East Gippsland where four people are missing in blazes that have destroyed homes.

The state government has also announced a bushfire response taskforce it vows will avoid “red tape” in dealing with fallout from the blazes.

The developments come after lightning sparked more than a dozen new blazes in Victoria’s alpine region on Tuesday.
More than 20 bushfires are now burning across Victoria, with flames ripping through more than 200,000 hectares in East Gippsland.

There was some good news amid the destruction, with a major fire front passing the coastal town of Mallacoota.

“I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced,” CFA chief officer Steve Warrington told reporters.

The community remains isolated and 4000 people have been sheltering on the beach. Some fires are still burning in the area.

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