Firefighter injured while battling Bellwood blaze

A firefighter suffered burns Sunday evening while responding to a fire that destroyed a 2-story building in west suburban Bellwood.

Firefighters were initially told about 6:30 p.m. that people were trapped inside the building in the 2500 block of West St. Charles Road, Bellwood Fire Chief Douglas Dombek said.

“Heavy fire conditions forced [the firefighters] out, and the fire was raised to a third alarm,” Dombek said. Authorities learned later that everyone inside had already escaped and were safe.

One firefighter “tumbled down some stairs” and suffered burns to his ears, Dombek said. He was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, and has been released.

“The building is a total loss,” according to Dombek, who said the fire was put out by midnight. The building had a commercial business on the first floor and five apartment buildings on the second. He said about 20 people were displaced.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and is under investigation, Dombek said.