(australianews) POLICE are hunting down the arsonist believed to be responsible for lighting one of the worst of the Victoria fires. Police have confirmed that they believe they know the identity of the man who allegedly contributed to the Churchill-Jeeralang blaze in Gippsland. Twenty-one people have died in that region. But the Country Fire Authority said the firefront could have included towns further north, including Kinglake, St Andrews and Strathewen, where dozens more died in the firestorm. The fires killed 173 people according to the last official death toll. The death toll from the bushfires was certain to rise further. Police said they could release a photo of the suspect in the next couple of days. Yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd likened lighting the blazes to mass murder. Twenty-four fires were still burning and towns remained under threat as authorities moved deeper into the ruins of more than 700 homes which were lost. (view source for photos and video)

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