Shipwrecked investigation reveals location, but cause of fire 'undetermined'

EGG HARBOR - The investigation of the Sunday fire that destroyed the Shipwrecked Brew Pub revealed the origin of the fire but the cause is undetermined, said Egg Harbor Fire Chief Steve Schopf.

The fire started in unit 5 of the second story near a "fold-out love seat and the actual cause is undetermined at this time," Schopf said. His department investigated the fire and found an electric outlet close to the love seat had a lamp plugged into a socket, Schopf said.

"Whether that was the cause, it is hard to determine," he said.

The brew pub's insurance company reviewed the investigation report and  "agrees" with the findings of the department, Schopf said.

Firefighters from every department in Door County and Algoma fought the fire that rampaged through the Shipwrecked Brew Pub on Sunday, destroying the building. It was one of the largest responses, if not the largest, in Door County to a fire, Schopf said.

The building, along Wisconsin 42, is a total loss. While it is too early for details, the Shipwrecked will be rebuilt to likely reopen in 2018, said Beth Levendusky, Shipwrecked's marketing director.

The fire started on the second floor of the inn section of the building and quickly engulfed the third story. More than 90 firefighters fought the fire to prevent it from spreading to the first floor and nearby buildings, Schopf said. 

About 80 firefighters were treated for dehydration by paramedics and emergency medical technicians from Brown County fire. Nine firefighters were transported to Door County Medical Center for dehydration, Schopf  said.  

The men were using air-supply packs and the Egg Harbor Fire Department requires a medical evaluation after a firefighter uses two canisters of air, Schopf said. 

"We had 35 (medical personnel) here giving IVs (intravenous hydration) and if they didn't come around from that, they were shipped to the hospital," Schopf said.

The heat and humidity were so intense that about half of the firefighters on the scene were being checked out by the medical personnel while the other half were battling the blaze, he said.

"It's so hot wearing the gear and the humidity, it just sucks it out of you," Schopf said. 

The local businesses and Red Cross provided drinks, food and assistance to the firefighters, Schopf said.

"Its a combined effort that helped us to do our job," he said.

Levendusky said staff reported the fire at about 11 a.m. Sunday when those in housekeeping discovered smoke and flames on the second floor — the business also serves as an inn with eight hotel rooms.

Efforts to put out the fire on their own with an extinguisher were unsuccessful, she said. 

According to Shipwrecked's website, the building dates to 1882. In the 1920s, when it was called the Harbor Inn, there were tunnels underneath the building and throughout Egg Harbor that, rumor has it, served as hiding spots for gangster Al Capone. The tunnels have since been closed for safety reasons. 

Under new ownership, the building became Shipwrecked in 1997.