Three generations of the family evacuated their home in Batlow on Saturday evening, first heading towards Tumut. But when the smoke became too thick there, they ventured on to Wagga.

While Alan, Anne, Sam and Maddie await any news from their home, their thoughts are with Matthew - Maddie's father, Sam's brother, and Alan and Anne's son - who stayed behind.

As the owner of the Batlow Pub, the family said, he felt it was his duty to stay and protect the place.

"We tried to convince him to come, but he didn't want to let the looters in," said his brother.

But the distance has felt ever greater as communications between the family units are strained.

"What we were concerned for was that we wouldn't be able to hear from him, the cell tower keeps going down and we're losing reception," Sam said.

Constantly monitoring the chatter online and via emergency broadcasts, the family say they are confident their home has avoided damage.

"The fire came right up to next door," Maddie said.

"The service station down the road blew up, and we don't know what damage there's been to the rest of the street."

The Rudd family made the decision to leave following a town meeting earlier in the week.

"It was quite frightening. To hear the town described as 'undefendable', that really said it all. We had to leave," Mr Rudd said.

Before then, the family say, they had heard barely a whisper of the destruction coming across their horizon.

"It was so quiet in Batlow on Friday," Sam said.

"You could stand there and see the fires coming from Blowering but there was no smoke over the town. Yesterday morning it all changed, we woke up to cars just leaving."

Fortunately, with time to prepare the family managed to make it away with their precious items.

Now left to wait in a caravan outside The Range in Wagga, the family have turned their thoughts to the confronting scenes that might await their return.

"We don't know how long we'll be here, someone said maybe five days. We have no choice but to wait, we'll have to stay here," Mrs Rudd said.

"The whole town, we don't know what's left, what the damage will be, what's left of the orchards," Mr Rudd said.