Man Seriously Injured In Propane Tank Fire Near McHenry

MCHENRY, IL — A man was seriously injured Thursday afternoon in a propane-related fire at a home near McHenry, fire officials said.

Firefighters were dispatched around 12:19 p.m. on Thursday to the 2900 block of Riverside Drive in unincorporated McHenry or a reported burn injury, according to a news release from the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District. While en route, crews were told a propane tank had exploded in a person’s face, and a medical helicopter was placed on standby.

However, upon arrival, firefighters found no evidence of an explosion. Instead, they found a man with visible burn injuries and a 20-pound propane tank actively burning in a driveway near a wooden trailer and garage, according to the news release.

The tank burned off its remaining contents within minutes and extinguished itself without causing additional property damage. Paramedics treated the man at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital with injuries believed to be serious.

Fire officials said the incident underscores how quickly propane-related situations can become dangerous and urged residents to use caution and properly maintain fuel equipment.