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Injured firefighters recovering

Photo

Photo by Dan Plutchak

Firefighters battled a blaze March 5, 2010 that destroyed the Mulligan's Sports Pub and Grill in Delavan Township.

DELAVAN TOWNSHIP — Most of the 10 firefighters injured Friday while fighting a fire at Mulligan’s Sports Pub and Grill are out of the hospital and back at work, officials said Monday.

Eight firefighters were injured when a bucket truck they were on came into contact with power lines visually obstructed by the thick smoke. Electricity traveled through the truck. One of the firefighters was touching the truck, and the others were touching hose lines near the vehicle.

One firefighter reported back injuries while another inhaled too much smoke.

Fire officials met Monday to determine why a Delavan Township firefighter moved the truck despite orders from Delavan Township Fire Chief Gerald Edwards not to.

Lake Geneva Fire Chief Brent Connelly said he wasn't pointing fingers at anyone, but wants to make sure such an accident never happens again. He was not immediately available after Monday’s meeting.

Connelly said previously that five of his firefighters were injured, but all were released from the hospital Saturday. Four are back at work and one will be out a few more days, he said.

The firefighter that has not returned suffered serious burns and was expected to get treatment at a burn unit, Connelly said. The other four firefighters received minor burns, he said.

The fire started just before 1 p.m. Friday at the tavern on Highway 50. Joe Vitacca, who was bartending when the fire broke out, said the flames came from a grease fire in the kitchen fryer.

Employees called 911, and the building was evacuated shortly after police arrived.

Vitacca contacted Michael York, who lived in an upstairs apartment with his girlfriend and two young daughters. The family escaped unharmed.

The building was a total loss.