Surf Coast Shire's Municipal Emergency Resource Officer (at the time) Virginia Morris, shares her recollections of this significant fire event on Victoria's Surf Coast. In the summer of 2015, dry conditions across the state led to a series of fires in mid-December, including several in the Otways. On 19 December 2015, lightning strikes ignited two fires in the Otway area at Jamieson Track and Delaneys Road, the first of which spread to Wye River and Separation Creek. The fire escalated over the coming week, despite extensive state-led fire-fighting efforts. On 25 December, at around 11am, strong northerly winds caused spot fires to break out beyond containment lines, and then advance on Wye River and Separation Creek. Within an hour, the communities of Wye River, Separation Creek, and nearby Kennett River were evacuated and the Great Ocean Road closed between Lorne and Skene’s Creek. During the 34 days the fire burnt council staff were involved in a wide range of activities, which assisted our communities in preparing for, responding to and recovering from the Christmas day fire.
