At 10:45am on 5 April 1958, a fire started in a pine plantation in Wandilo, near Mount Gambier. Fanned by strong, north-north-easterly winds, the fire entered nearby forests. 

Forestry and Emergency Fire Service units were dispatched and entered a clearing in the plantation. However, a fire storm developed; firefighting crews were caught unprepared. Two forestry units became bogged in soft sand when trying to evacuate; another damaged a gearbox and could not move. 

The fire was brought under control early the next day.

While three firefighters survived, eight firefighters died as a result of the fire.