A golf course operator says a "massive ball of flames" shot into the sky as a blaze tore through Mount Gambier's heritage Crater Lakes precinct.
"We were extremely lucky, thanks to the Country Fire Service and Metropolitan Fire Service. Things could had been horrible," said Blue Lake Golflinks operator Bill Burley.
He said back-burning along the edge of the course helped save the facility.
"Watching the fire bombers and helicopters, it was quite eerie," Mr Burley said.
He witnessed the event first-hand and said at one stage he could hear the "crackling of the fire" while standing in the car park with smoke billowing just 100 metres away.
He praised the efforts of firefighters on the ground and in the air, given the significant aerial water-bombing efforts that helped contain the fire.
Mr Burley said many of the firefighters were volunteers who "put their lives on the line".
He said he was worried that a volunteer could die given the difficult terrain, similar to the heartbreaking tragedy that unfolded at the Coles fireground earlier this month.
Mr Burley said the golf course and nearby caravan park were on stand-by to evacuate.
Timber industry help
The Green Triangle forestry sector also played a major part in the fire suppression after it recently invested in a firefighting helicopter based in Casterton.
The helicopter was used to scoop water from nearby lakes to fight the blaze.
The helicopter's bucket can hold 1,000 litres of water.
Green Triangle Fire Alliance general manager Anthony Walsh said he did not expect to use the Casterton-based helicopter so soon in South Australia.
Fire crews were also able to save the historic Centenary Tower.
The forestry sector had recently invested in an infrared camera at its top.
The camera uses infrared technology to pinpoint when and where a fire has started, with the information used for investigations into the origin of the blazes.
Mr Walsh said the camera had provided some "useful information".
Drone warning
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) aviation safety advisor Rob Whittle said the illegal use of drones were a major safety hazard for response teams in the air and on the ground.
He said it did not matter whether it was private or public property, it was illegal to fly drones over emergency situations.
"Unfortunately, it's not an isolated incident," Mr Whittle said.
He said drones created a problem for firefighting aircraft given they could potentially bring them down.
