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Shell Fire (FL)

Ended · 100% contained · 2,822 acres · started 2026-05-22 · updated 2026-07-17

Shell Fire (FL) — Sentinel-2 true color Shell Fire (FL) — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego) True color Fire (SWIR)
True color (left): as the eye sees it.
Infrared / SWIR (right): sees through smoke.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 red/brown = burned
🟠 orange = active fire

Imagery: Sentinel-2 (Copernicus). Drag to compare smoke vs. infrared.

Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).

Quick facts

Location
13 Miles W from Deland, FL
Cause
Natural
Personnel
6
Complexity
Type 4 Incident
Fuel
Southern Rough
Behavior
Minimal, Creeping, Smoldering
Jurisdiction
USFS · Federal land

After burning for 56 days across 2,822 acres of federal land, the Shell Fire in Lake County, Florida, has reached full containment. Located 13 miles west of DeLand, the blaze maintained an average daily growth of approximately 50 acres throughout its duration, fueled primarily by Southern Rough vegetation.

The U.S. Forest Service successfully managed the Type 4 incident with a six-person crew, incurring a total cost of $360,000. Following a natural ignition on May 22, 2026, the fire activity has subsided to minimal creeping and smoldering conditions.

In context

This wildfire burned in Florida for 75 days. In total it burned about 2,822 acres — around 11 km².

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.

The bigger picture in United States

Across United States, roughly 3,021,962 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 45% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.

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