Red flag warning issued for Central Florida as 120-acre fire burns in Lake County

Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel on Apr 20, 2026

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The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Monday for Central Florida as crews battled a 120-acre wildfire in northern Lake County that has been worsened by wind conditions.

The NWS station in Melbourne said the warning was for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Okeechobee counties because low humidity and gusty northeast winds in the region may produce a “high fire danger.” The warning will take effect Tuesday and last from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Any fires that develop during this time are expected to spread rapidly and outdoor burning is not recommended.

Fire rescue crews in Lake County have been battling a wildfire near Umatilla for several days. It has now reached 120 acres and was at 65% containment as of Monday evening, according to a spokesperson from the Florida Forest Service.

The spokesperson said the fire had been nearly contained over the past several days until wind caused it to spread, worsening once it reached a swamp. A helicopter is dropping water on the fire to cool it down and fire rescue crews are still working to establish containment lines around the blaze.

Three homes have been evacuated and people are being asked to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, according to the spokesperson.

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