Abandoned building gutted by fire in Island Lake

The cause of a fire that destroyed an abandoned building that housed old equipment in Island Lake is still under investigation, authorities said late Tuesday night.

The Wauconda Fire Protection District responded to a call at 6:53 p.m. about a fire near Route 176 and Darrell Road, said Wauconda Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Kevin Pyne.

When responders arrived, the fire had fully engulfed the back of the wood frame structure, Pyne said. A few workers were on the scene but no one was injured, and the fire was put out within about 20 minutes, Pyne said. He said he didn’t know what the workers were doing there.

“It was a little one-story bar/restaurant. It was abandoned for a long time, overgrown with weeds and trees,” he said.

The building, which was gutted by the fire, was being used for storage for old electronics and restaurant equipment, he said.

“The estimated value is probably not more than a few thousand dollars. It appeared to be old, outdated stuff,” Pyne said, adding he thought the owners of the property live out of the area.

There are also several abandoned cabins on the property that abuts Slocum Lake, Pyne said.