Well over a dozen fire departments were called to help extensively search the Des Plaines River near Libertyville after an overturned kayak was discovered Sunday morning, fire officials said.
The Libertyville Fire Department, Lake County Forest Preserve Police and Libertyville Police Department responded around 11 a.m. Sunday to the area of the Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch, 15645 West Oak Spring Road in unincorporated Libertyville, for a service call.
Libertyville Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Hall said it was reported that a kayak was found overturned on the Des Plaines River near the Oak Spring Road Bridge.
An individual on a different kayak called 911 and said he was traveling south on the Des Plaines River when he encountered the overturned kayak.
The kayak was partially submerged in the river, stuck on branches in the water, Hall said.
There was no sign of anyone around the overturned kayak and the Libertyville Fire Department began to investigate.
A small response was initially dispatched but a swift water rescue response was soon initiated after crews arrived.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level, bringing water rescue equipment and specialized technicians from fire departments through Lake and McHenry counties.
Hall said it was unknown if there was anybody in the water and a search needed to be conducted.
An extensive search of the river and surrounding areas was conducted by swift water technicians but nothing was ultimately found.
Searches were conducted for approximately three hours until they were terminated and the box alarm was struck out, with firefighters returning from the scene, Hall said.
The Countryside, Algonquin, Mundelein, Lake Villa, Lake Bluff, Waukegan, Grayslake, Buffalo Grove, Lake Forest, Long Grove, Gurnee, Zion, Lincolnshire, North Chicago, Round Lake and Newport fire departments, including the MABAS Division 4 and 5 swiftwater technicians.