THE Beechworth fire has burnt about 35,000ha since it was started on Saturday by trees falling on power lines.

There were 300 firefighters on the fire ground yesterday, supported by 44 tankers, 29 slip-on units, 31 bulldozers, two fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters.

The fire was still posing a threat to many towns west and south of Beechworth, due to strengthening southerly winds and difficult access to rugged country.

However cooler conditions on Monday, and Monday evening, gave firefighters a chance to back-burn and make progress on containment lines.

Department of Sustainability and Environment incident spokesman Darren Skelton said that as of yesterday morning, losses included 14 houses and 1000ha of pine plantation.

"DSE, CFA and private crews will be working hard in the cooler conditions to minimise the fire's spread,'' Mr Skelton said.

Carmel Smith, a member of the Stanley CFA brigade, said firefighters were weary but had been boosted by the presence of interstate crews.

"Sleep is hard to get when such a high level of vigilance is required,'' Ms Smith said.

"And the fire has been doing as it likes.

"It was incredibly hard to predict.''

The fire ripped through Mudgegonga, about 20km southeast of Beechworth, on Saturday. Resident Tim Howard said it was a terrifying experience.

"It was so sudden and ferocious,'' Mr Howard said.

"And simply flattened everything in its path.''

CFA Benalla group communications manager Jack Harrison said it had been a trying few days.

"Some of our more experienced crew members who attended the fire at Kilmore and Wandong were surprised by its ferocity,'' Mr Harrison said.

Beef and dairy herds in the areas of Mudgegonga and Rosewhite reported stock losses numbering in the hundreds.

Despite the destruction of hundreds of kilometres of fencing, silage and hay reserves, the region's dairy infrastructure was untouched, enabling milking to continue.

Alpine Angus stud, at Rosewhite, lost a large sale barn _ the venue for the stud's annual production sale next month.

Manager Willie Milne said although fencing, pasture and 600 bales of silage and hay had been lost, no cattle were injured or killed.

Mudgegonga dairy farmers Bill and Trish Carroll lost all but 8ha of their 485ha property.

Mr Carroll said the main dairy herd of 240 cows, young heifers and 50 lotfed steers escaped the fire.

Neighbour Clarrie Murray lost 20 young dairy heifers due to calve in July, when they were trapped in a burning paddock.

Mr Murray, who runs 118 milkers, managed to save his house, dairy and fodder but lost 50 per cent of his pasture.

Mudgegonga beef producers Jim and Sheila Carroll lost up to 18 weaner heifers ready for sale, and family member Loretta Carroll lost 30 beef cows.

Among the lucky ones were Mudgegonga beef producers Trevor and Diana Jepson.

The fire singed the edges of their farm, sparing their herd of 300 breeders and replacements.