An investigation is underway into the cause of a fire this afternoon at McGowan's Irish Inn in Palm Desert.
The fire, in the 73000 block of highway 111, was reported just before noon, and reported as out within 20 minutes.
No one was inside the restaurant, which had been closed for the summer and scheduled to reopen in late September.
Nine engines and a total of 34 fire fighters responded to a report of billowing flames from the back of the restaurant at 11:47a.m. Upon arrival, first crews reported major smoke coming from inside the popular restaurant.
According to CalFire Spokesperson Jody Hagemann, one firefighter was taken to a local hospital for a heat-related injury.
There was no estimate to the total damage to the restaurant.
