The bushfire, which has already burned more than 130,000 hectares, is expected to hit the area on Friday, as weather conditions deteriorate ahead of the predicted 40-plus degree maximum and winds on Saturday.

Embers from the fire may land in pine plantations next to Batlow, near Old Tumbarumba Road, the Rural Fire Service has warned.

There are concerns the blaze may link up with fires burning in the Upper Murray, which have destroyed at least 15 homes.

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To leave, people are being told to travel north towards Wagga, through Adelong, via Batlow Road and Old Tumbarumba Road to access the Hume Highway and then the Sturt Highway.

An emergency evacuation centre has been opened in the multi-purpose centre at Wagga's Equex complex on Copland Street and an emergency operations centre has been established in the city to help co-ordinate the evacuation efforts.

In Batlow, residents were packing their vehicles and leaving on Thursday afternoon, according to Terry Murphy from the town's post office.

"Every man and his dog are packing up and going," he said.

Mr Murphy is also a member of the Volunteer Rescue Association and said he was waiting for everyone else to leave before getting himself out.

"I'm just closing up the post office now," he said about 4pm.

"The supermarket is open today, it's dead quiet though - it's only the staff in the building which is the same as everywhere else."

Aside from the vehicles leaving town, Mr Murphy said the streets are empty.

"Bulldozers can't keep up on the hills burning so there's nothing that can be done, we've all got to go," he said.

Paramedic and deputy mayor of Snowy Valleys Council John Larter said authorities "couldn't have been more forceful" in their advice at a public meeting in urging Batlow residents to leave by 10am on Friday.

At Mannus Jail, extra staff were brought in to assist with the evacuation, with all 155 minimum security inmates going to Junee Correctional Centre.

They will remain there as long as necessary for their safety, the spokesperson said.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service on Thursday issued an evacuation notice for Kosciuszko National Park including resorts and all places located within its boundaries.

All people must exit Kosciuszko National Park boundaries before 10am on Friday.

The RFS has said firefighters would not be able to guarantee the safety of Tumbarumba residents.