A survey of SA fire victims has shown 85% had their homes fully insured in January last year when lightning strikes caused blazes that destroyed a dozen houses.

The fires in rural Eden Valley, Bangor and Rockleigh burned 225,000 hectares of land.

Another 83% of victims’ contents were fully insured, but for machinery and equipment 27% were uninsured and 10% were underinsured, the study by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre shows.

Among people with livestock and pets, only half were fully insured and 6% were underinsured, with 44% having no insurance for their animals.

By dwelling type, 91% of people on residential blocks had full house insurance and 82% on “lifestyle” blocks were covered. Full contents cover was held by 91% and 82% respectively.

“A key figure here is that 18% of those on lifestyle properties reported having no contents insurance,” the report says.

A “notable proportion” of people on residential, lifestyle and farm or agribusiness properties had no insurance for their houses (9‐16%) and contents (9‐18%).

Full house insurance was reported by 81% of respondents with a farm or agribusiness.

In April and May last year, 171 residents in affected communities were interviewed, while 606 South Australians took part in a complementary online survey.

About 92% of respondents felt adequately insured for their houses, 91% for contents and 84% for vehicles.

However, 22% did not know if they were insured for their farm structures and equipment, 30% for livestock and 35% for their businesses.

No one died in the lightning-strike fires, but there was extensive damage to land and some structures, the report says.