On 19 December 2015, lightning strikes ignited two bushfires in Victoria’s Barwon Otway area.

Between 19 December 2015 and 21 January 2016, the bushfire that became known as the Wye River – Jamieson Track fire burned 2,500 hectares in the Otway Ranges in the Lorne-Wye River region. By the end of 25 December, the fire had destroyed 98 houses in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek.

The Wye River – Jamieson Track fire continued to burn for 34 days until it was contained on 21 January 2016.  The fire burnt over 2,500 hectares with a perimeter of 47 kilometres.