Bendalong couple Alan and Carlie Cash feel they have no choice but to stay and wait out the Currowan fire if it spreads on Saturday.
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They are frightened but prepared.
Their son Michael is staying to help but the rest of his family, along with their six dogs, packed up and left on Friday afternoon.
The trio has a plan of last resort: if the fire comes knocking, jump in the car and get down to the boat harbour.
They might be lucky and avoid total devastation, like they have when previous fires have threatened the township.
But they still have an anxious night and day ahead of them.
"We are terrified," Mrs Cash told the Mercury on Friday as she surveyed the work the family had already done to their property in preparation for the fire threat..
"We have nowhere else to go," Mr Cash said.
"Our daughter lives in Milton and she is under threat too.
"We would have to go to an evacuation centre but then we might not be able to get back.
"The roads are dicey anyway. We will prepare by hosing the house, gutters and gardens.
"We have food, personal papers, photos, chairs to sit on packed in the car."
Mr and Mrs Cash had been regular visitors to the Bendalong area since the 1940s, however 10 years ago decided to knock down their holiday house and erect a permanent home.
The couple host their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren every New Year, however the family has spent the past four days without power, phone reception and had cold showers.
The couple say they expect about 20 other residents of the tiny hamlet to stay put on Saturday.
The neighbours plan to help each other protect their properties and to evacuate to the harbour as a last resort.
Nearly all of the holidaymakers have already left the town.
Among those making the mass exodus on Friday was Trish Bresanhan, who came down for a visit with family friends, Alan and Barbara Crawford at the couple's holiday house in Manyana.
"We were told on Thursday to get out then or on Friday," Ms Breshanhan said.
"We got prepared and are going to Sydney. We raked up as many leaves as we could, locked up the windows and doors to make sure the house was secure and put water out for the birds."
The Crawfords said they wanted to leave so they did not make fighting the fire any more difficult for crews.
"We were told it was better to be out than in for the horrendous conditions on Saturday," Mr Crawford said.
"There is no power or air-conditioning, and all the food is going off.
"If the house goes at least it is not our main home."
Also evacuating on Friday were Long Beach residents Carol and Wayne Toms, who said they didn't want to see a repeat of New Year's Eve.
"It was strongly suggested we go to the evacuation centre on Tuesday as we could have gotten cut off from town," Mr Toms said.
"We were at the evacuation point at Hanging Rock on New Year's Eve and that's when the fire storm came through. It was very frightening," Mrs Toms said.
"I went out from the evacuation centre to get food and when I turned around, the sky turned red with smoke. It was creepy.
"I was determined not to stay there this time. It was time to get out."
"We left Long Beach at 11.30am on Friday, stopped at Ulladulla to let the dog have a walk then we got stopped on the Princes Highway about 12.30pm. We had a dream run until we were stopped," Mr Crawford said.
"We feel a bit edgy about the Currowan fire but there is nothing we can do about it.
"People have to consider their options but do what they are advised to do. It is very stressful. Homes have been burnt down in Bateman's Bay suburbs, as have stores. It is horrendous."
Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley said, if you don't have the mental or physical ability to fight the fire, and you have a plan then you should go.
"I cannot reiterate it enough," she said.
"Some people may think we are being over dramatic but I have seen the RFS predictions over the past month and every time they have come to fruition.
"I am very concerned for the next 24 to 48 hours.
"I would rather people were safe rather than heroes. We don't want to our death toll to rise."
