By Benjamin Cox on May 17, 2021 at 7:23am Three firefighters were injured after a large fire consumed an apartment building in Beardstown overnight. At approximately 8:38PM Cass County 9-1-1 began receiving multiple calls of a fire at 601 East Fourth Street in Beardstown. Flames and heavy black smoke could be seen coming from the roof and upper floors of the building by eyewitnesses. The Beardstown Fire Department immediately called for mutual aid from surrounding fire departments to assist in containment of the blaze. The building is formerly known as the Beardstown Hotel. Portions of the rear wall and the upper floors collapsed during the firefight, injuring 3 firefighters, who were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Unconfirmed reports say that Beardstown Fire Chief Brian Becker is one of the injured. Beardstown Firefighters told reporters at the scene that one person was taken out of the building by firefighters through a second floor window. No deaths have been reported. One occupant was said to have been inside at the time of the fire.