Firefighter hurt battling blaze at Antioch's Dublin O'Shea's

One firefighter was injured while fighting a blaze that erupted Wednesday morning at the popular Dublin O'Shea's Irish Pub on Route 173 west of Antioch.

Antioch Fire Department Chief John Nixon said no other injuries resulted from the fire that brought emergency personnel to the scene to the unincorporated area after flames were spotted coming from the building about 9 a.m.

Nixon said the injured firefighter from Richmond was working a hose while assisting Antioch crews. Nixon said the firefighter suffered a broken arm and was taken to Centegra Hospital-McHenry, where he was treated and released.

Although investigators do not yet know what caused the fire, Nixon said, they are focusing on Dublin O'Shea's basement. He said thousands of gallons of water must be pumped from the basement before investigators can look for clues.

Lake County sheriff's office investigators are collaborating on the investigation with Antioch firefighters.

Nixon said firefighters responding to the call spent the first 10 minutes searching an apartment above the bar. He said no one was inside the apartment.

"That was my first concern when we arrived on the scene," he said.

John Hauser, owner of United Canvas and Awning next to the bar, said he watched as firefighters could not get into the basement to battle the source of the blaze.

Fire crews pumped water from two lakes flanking the pub. Lake Catherine is about a block north and Lake Marie is one block south.

"You can look through the doors and look straight to the sky," Hauser said, explaining how the roof was completely burned off.

Nixon said the structure is considered a total loss. He said the preliminary damage estimate was pegged at $150,000.

Authorities said initial 911 calls reported a small smolder coming from the building's east side.

Firefighters from Fox Lake, Spring Grove, Lake Villa, Richmond, Grayslake, Round Lake, and Salem, Wis., assisted Antioch in fighting the fire.

• Daily Herald staff writer Bob Susnjara contributed to this report.