From the Cary Fire Protection District:
Ice Rescue Incident at Lake Killarney
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 4:38 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 6200 block of Londonderry Drive in unincorporated Cary for reports of people calling out for help in Lake Killarney.
Two off duty firefighters who were in the area arrived shortly after the initial dispatch and observed two individuals approximately 50 to 75 feet from shore who had fallen through the ice while attempting to go ice fishing.
Both patients were struggling to keep their heads above water.
One off duty firefighter entered the water through the ice and made a preliminary rescue of a teenage patient.
Fire crews arrived moments later and began coordinated rescue operations to remove the adult patient from the water.
Both patients were rescued within approximately eight minutes of fire department arrival.
A third individual, identified as a neighboring resident, had attempted to assist prior to the arrival of emergency crews and also fell through the ice.
individual was able to self-rescue and return to shore under his own power before being evaluated by responders.
The two initial patients and the neighbor were evaluated on scene and transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. One off-duty firefighter was evaluated at the scene and did not require transport.
The final units cleared the scene at 5:45 p.m.
The Cary Fire Protection District reminds the public that ice conditions can change rapidly and are often unsafe, even when they appear solid.
The Cary Fire Protection District would like to thank the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, the Fox River Grove Fire Protection District, the Algonquin – Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District, and area dispatchers for their assistance during this incident.
