Though the fire posed no immediate threat this afternoon, some residents decided it was better to leave early as the flames crept towards the town from the south-west.

But tonight there have been unconfirmed reports the fire had reached Beattie Lane, bringing it within six km of the town.

Yackandandah resident Kelvin Schulz said everyone he had spoken to was packing up and leaving.

“We took our car and caravan to my son’s house in Wodonga and as soon as we finish dinner we’ll be heading back there to stay the night,” he said.

“We’ve fought off two fires before, but not this time.

“I got rid of all my stock earlier this year and after 13 days of temperatures near 40C, I can just smell too much labour in the air.”

Java @ Yack Internet Cafe owner Frances Dryden said a number of families with small children had left this morning but many other residents were confident the fire would not come near.

“The whole town has been pretty calm,” she said.

“I’ll be staying open all night though, just for the people who need support.”

Foodworks supermarket duty manager Jackson Maginness said her staff had been flat out all day.

Aside from providing water, mars bars, apples and juice to CFA volunteers, the store had been inundated with Yackandandah and Beechworth residents keen to replace produce that had gone off while power was out on Saturday.

“Everyone’s been coming in to fill their eskies and get essentials like bread, milk and batteries for their torches,” he said.

“There definitely hasn’t been any panic though.

“There’s a general understanding that the fire fighters are making a lot of progress.”

Liquor assistant Holly Anthony said she was more worried about people out of town.

“My housemate has gone back to her home in Dederang because the fire is coming in close,” she said.

“They’ve filled buckets with water and put sprinklers on the roof so they are ready.”