Tributes for 'special' man killed in South Australian bushfire

The South Australian man killed in the state's catastrophic bushfires has been remembered by friends and colleagues as a "special" person.

Ron Selth, 69, was confirmed as the sole fatality from the fires that have ravaged the Adelaide Hills.

Mr Selth, who ran his own engineering business, stayed to defend his property.

Friend Tim Phillips told 9News that hearing of Mr Selth's death had been "very, very hard".

"I feel very sorry for the family," he said.

"(It's) going to leave a big hole in our lives."

His family have been notified.

Neighbour Michael McFarlane told 9News Mr Selth was a "nice bloke".

READ MORE: 'Awful day' as thousands of firefighters battle flames in multiple states

Mr McFarlane added his shock at his neighbour being inside the home at the time.

"I didn't know the gentleman was up there. Now, if I had have known, I would have jumped in this machine behind me, went and picked him up and brought him back here as the fire was getting closer," he added.

Currently, 72 homes are confirmed to have been lost in the area, along with hundreds of other buildings and cars.

More than 40,000 hectares burnt across the state, including 25,000 in the Adelaide Hills.