Wind gusts of up to 76 kilometres saw the 270 hectare fire spread swiftly, with many Leneva residents packing up and fleeing to Wodonga with flames just 700 metres from their houses.

Country Fire Authority's Brett Myers said strong southwesterly winds caused the fire to move from Beechworth-Wodonga Road, across Baranduda Boulevard, up Martins Road and over Bears Hill very quickly.

An unoccupied, disused house on Fredericks Street Road was destroyed, with only rubble and its chimneys left standing.

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CFA group officer Terry Darmody said firefighters attempting to contain the blaze had to ask for traffic stops to be put in place to stop the constant stream on onlookers.

"It's very frustrating," he said. "They're impeding our work and putting themselves in danger."

Leneva's Sam Bushnell, 26, and her mother Tanya Cox were told by police to evacuate about 8pm when the fire reached an undeveloped paddock metres from their house. But their path to safety was repeatedly blocked by car-loads of gawkers.

"The hardest thing about the night was when we were leaving all the rubberneckers were up Kitchington Road, blocking it," Mrs Cox said.

"I've never see the road so busy, it was so bad. It was preventing us getting out.

"Cars had to move off the road for us to be able to get out, it was ridiculous.

"They're putting everyone else in danger because we can't get out, the firies can't get through, emergency services can't get through - people they just don't get it."

The pair's house on the edge of Kitchington Estate was the closest home to the blaze, with the fire coming within about 500 metres of their property.

"There was just fire everywhere it was a bit scary at first because you never thought it would be so close," Mrs Cox said.

Firefighers, trucks and water bombers continued to work on the blaze on Saturday.

Mr Myers said firefighter would be patrolling and doing containment work for days, he asked residents to stay away to let them do their work.

"I'd really encourage people at the moment to please stay away from the area, it's only hindering our operations," he said.

Mr Myers said police and CFA were investigating the fire's cause, but at this stage it was not being treated as suspicious.