A faulty electric fence caused the Sherwood bushfire in the upper south-east of South Australia last weekend, police have confirmed.
The blaze was fought on a day of catastrophic fire warnings last Saturday, in extreme temperatures and strong winds.
Two houses were lost as the bushfire blacked about 12,000 hectares of farmland, and several sheds and cars were destroyed.
Authorities confirmed 78 head of cattle and almost 2,000 sheep were lost in the bushfire.
Sherwood farmer Charlie Crozier said he lost hundreds of sheep but firefighters saved his house.
Another Sherwood farmer Stephen Jaeschke lost two houses and stock feed and said the show of community support since the blaze was "so humbling".
Local communities have been making offers of hay and to help out with replacement of fencing.
