Ten Rural Fire Service trucks and about 30 personnel are at the scene, along with Fire and Rescue trucks from Batemans Bay and Moruya.

At about 6.30pm, Rural Fire Service spokesman said homes were under threat in Dunns Creek Road, Burri Road, Ivy Place, Worthy Drive, Grace Close and Ferndale Place.

"Nearly every appliance from Broulee to Long Beach and everywhere in between is at the scene," he said.

"We have still not contained it. We have spotting activity over into the quarry on George Bass Drive and spotting north of Rosedale."

He said an expected southerly change had arrived, but only lightly, and the wind had returned to blowing from the west.

"We still have gusty winds, between 15k per hour from the west and causing some spotting activity," he said.

Batemans Bay Fire and Rescue Station Commander said his crews were responsible for protecting property, while the RFS crews worked to contain the 5000ha bushfire.

He said crews were keeping an anxious eye on the wind, as a southerly change was expected and could blow the flames to the north, putting further properties under threat.

He warned people if they were going to leave to leave early, so as not to be caught.

The fire was initially reported in mid-afternoon as a burning stump but the fire quickly escalated in strong gusty winds.