Despite strong urgings to evacuate from a senior fire chief and police at a community meeting in Dartmouth on Friday, the majority of those in attendance said they would be staying put in an area with only one-way access in and out.

The meeting was attended by about 100 people, who were mostly locals, after a large number of holidaymakers fled when the Upper Murray bushfire started on New Year's Eve.

"We are entering unchartered territory," CFA Commander Brett Myers said.

"We haven't seen weather like this before and the other factor is we've got fire burning in the landscape directly to the north-east of Dartmouth.

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"If you have no reason to stay here, my recommendation is you leave today, and if you choose to stay that decision should not be made lightly.

"You need to understand it will be hot, it will be smokier than it is now."

Fire chiefs are worried about spot fires which have started between Dartmouth and the main fire in the Upper Murray.

Commander Myers said of the 22 homes lost in the Upper Murray area earlier in the week many weren't defendable.

"It is extremely risky to be leaving at the last minute," he said.

"You run the risk of having a head-on with fire trucks coming the other way."

Among those preparing to stay is former Wodonga Catholic parish priest Dennis Crameri, who moved to the area two years ago.

"They staved off the big fire in 2003 and they obviously know what they are doing," he said.

"It is comforting to know when you see your neighbours and others saying 'to stay'.

"You get a lot of support from that."

Earthmovers Tim Glass and Scott Ridgeway, who also live in the area, began working on fire breaks around the Dartmouth area on Monday when the 40-plus degree temperatures were first predicted.

"We've put a fire break right around the town," Mr Glass said.

"We know the lay of the land and we've got a lot in place.

"We've got places where we can get away from radiant heat.

"In 2003 we managed it and we are going in with same sort of plan."

Dartmouth Hotel publican and Towong Shire councillor Aaron Scales also attended the meeting and said if anyone wanted to leave the closest evacuation centre was located in Tallangatta with another one opened at The Cube in Wodonga in the last 24 hours.

"Please do take advantage of those if you do want to leave," he said.

"The council is stretched completely beyond our resources at the moment, but Indigo, Alpine and Wodonga are assisting."

Visibility in the Mitta Valley area was down to less than 200m in some places on Friday due to the smoke coming from the fire near Corryong and others burning in East Gippsland.

Temperatures were in the low 20s when the meeting was underway due to the thick blanket of smoke, but are still predicted to rise sharply.