Few sights could bring a bigger smile to a weary firefighter's face than the glorious rain that drenched the Adelaide Hills after days of relentless bushfires.
Authorities declared on Thursday that the Sampson Flat bushfire had been fully contained, six days after the blaze began its trail of destruction.
The fire destroyed 27 homes, burnt through almost 13,000 hectares and left 134 people, mainly firefighters, injured.
Remarkably, no lives were lost.
While local brigades will patrol the area over the next few weeks and there is still work to be done on hotspots around the fire, there was a palpable sense of relief on the fireground.
Plastic rubbish bins misshapen by the blaze. (Karen Ashford)
Inspecting the fire zone and meeting volunteers on Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the efforts of emergency workers in the face of awful conditions had been remarkable.
"The courage, the professionalism, the dedication has been simply exemplary," he told reporters.
"But for those efforts, we could be looking at a much greater cost."
Firefighters from NSW and Victoria flew to Adelaide to assist the SA Country Fire Service in containing the blaze, while emergency services crews cleared roads to allow residents to return home.
Authorities were reluctant to celebrate too soon, saying there was still every chance of more bushfires to come during what's expected to be a long, hot summer.
CFS chief officer Greg Nettleton said he was confident authorities had the systems in place to minimise bushfire damage as much as possible.
Crews from NSW and Victoria have a sit-down meal before heading home. (Karen Ashford)
"The fact that nobody has been killed by the fire or seriously burnt, I think is testament to the fact that we got warnings out clearly to the community, the community acted appropriately (and) people chose to leave when they assessed the danger," he said.
"I think that's been a pretty good outcome."
It was feared that a potentially catastrophic weather change could fan the blaze but while lightning strikes caused a number of small fires, forecast damaging winds largely failed to materialise.
Heavy rain and cooler conditions were expected to continue through to the weekend, bringing welcome relief to firefighters after days of extreme heat.
Police are still working to determine what caused the fire, with investigations centred on a backyard incinerator at a Sampson Flat property.
The tenant has denied the incinerator was to blame, telling the Sunday Mail he hadn't used it since moving onto the land four months ago.
As the immediate threat from the fire reduced, remarkable tales of survival emerged.
Kersbrook retirees Anne and Bevan Crook managed to successfully defend their home from the bushfire, wearing wet tea towels over their faces and armed with hoses.
Surveying the damage to his property just a few streets away, Dave Miller offered a blunt assessment of what was left: "No house, not very much of anything, mate."
Authorities have been unable to place a cost on the damage caused by the fire, though insurance losses have already passed $13 million, with more claims expected to be lodged over the coming weeks.
Blackened trees stand sentinel over a charred landscape near Kersbrook. (Karen Ashford)
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