From the Cary Fire Protection District:
House Explosion/Fire on Pheasant Trail
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 1:32 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 6700 block of Pheasant Trail in unincorporated Cary for a reported house fire and possible explosion.
The first arriving crew found a small single-family residence with visible signs of an explosion.
Doors and windows had been blown off the front and rear of the home, and smoke was showing from multiple areas.
A male adult, the sole occupant of the residence, was found on the ground outside the home, suffering from significant burn injuries sustained during the explosion.
The incident was upgraded to a working structure fire, prompting the response of additional personnel, water tenders, and other resources.
Due to the severity of the patient’s injuries, a medical helicopter was requested; however, no helicopters in the region were available.
The patient was transported in critical condition by ground ambulance to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
No additional victims were located inside the residence.
The fire was declared under control at 2:12 p.m., though extensive overhaul operations were needed due to the heavy fire damage throughout the home’s interior.
Due to the extensive fire and structural damage, the house and its contents are considered a total loss.
No damage was reported to adjacent homes.
Cary received mutual aid assistance from the Barrington Fire Department, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, Fox River Grove Fire Protection District, and McHenry Township Fire Protection District.
Utility companies and the McHenry County Building Department also responded to the scene.
The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation by the Cary Fire Protection District, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, and Nicor, due to the reported involvement of natural gas.
No further information is available at this time.
Photos are courtesy of the Cary Fire Protection District.
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Cary Fire Chief Brad Delatorre is in the bottom picture.
