Around midday on 25 November 2015, the Pinery fire started in the lower Mid-North wheat belt, approximately 70 kilometres north of Adelaide. With high winds and in open wheat fields, the fire moved very quickly, with a speed not seen in previous fires.
The fire initially moved in a south-easterly direction from Pinery, propelled by the strong winds. A south-westerly change in the afternoon of 25 November transformed the eastern flank of the fire into a new fire front, burning in an easterly direction towards the Barossa Valley.
The Piney fire burnt an estimated total of 82,500 hectares; most of the destruction took place on the first day. Two lives were lost, along with thousands of livestock. The fire destroyed approximately 91 homes and damaged numerous others. Many townships were affected, including Pinery, Mallala, Wasleys, Roseworthy, Freeling, Hamley Bridge, Daveyston, Grenock and Kapunda.
More than 1,700 firefighters responded to the fire, supported by Victorian fire authorities.