Australian Defence Force to help assess the bushfire damage

Australian Defence Force reservists will be rolled out across the nation to help count the cost of the bushfire crisis.

Overnight flare-ups are expected to have razed more properties in NSW and Victoria as scores of thousands of residents remain displaced by hundreds of uncontrolled blazes.

Southerly winds whipping across Australia's southeast posed a danger even too great for firefighters, who were told to leave some areas, with authorities expected to return today to assess damage.

Six people remain missing in Victoria, with grave fears for their wellbeing.

In NSW thousands of properties are without power and it's feared the widespread bushfires will have an ongoing impact on the state's energy supplies.

The federal government has announced up to 3000 Australian Defence Force reservists will be deployed to help handle the bushfire fallout.

One of the first jobs for authorities will be to assess the extent of property damage and gauge whether residents can safely return to their homes.

Temperatures today are forecast to be milder, with some hopeful outlooks for centres that have been hard hit by bushfires.

The far east Victorian town of Mallacoota is due to receive some rain over the coming three days with a maximum of 23C forecast for Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

At Nowra on the NSW south coast, a maximum of 22C is expected.

Forecast winds could still pose a dangerous risk by fuelling the fires in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.