Five-Alarm Inferno Challenges Illinois Crews

June 14, 2006
Fire crews acted cautiously since they were not sure what kind of chemical they were dealing with

Emergency crews got an industrial fire in the near West suburb of Bellwood under control around noon today after battling it for hours. At least five people have been injured in the blaze.

Video: Images: Flames Tear Through Factory

The fire apparently started around 9:17 a.m., at 25th Avenue and Madison Street when people in a factory heard some kind of explosion. The factory, Universal Form Clamp Company, works with concrete-forming equipment and some construction chemicals, NBC5's Anita Padilla reported.

Officials are not sure what caused the blaze.

Officials called a Level 2 hazmat situation, which means the incident involved a severe hazard or hazard to a large area which poses threat to life or property and could require evacuation of the area, along with a 5-11 alarm. Fifteen area fire departments converged on the scene to fight the blaze.

Fire crews sprayed foam on the fire because they were not sure what kind of chemical they were dealing with, Padilla reported.

Four people were transported to Loyola Hospital with burns. One person suffered second-degree burns, and a second had third-degree burns. A fifth person was also injured. The extent of the remaining victims' injuries was not released.

Padilla said she had not seen any evacuations from the surrounding industrial buildings or homes.

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