60-year-old man dies in fire in unincorporated Belleville, despite efforts to save him

A 60-year-old man died in a house fire Thursday on Sandalwood Drive in unincorporated Belleville.

John J. Finnegan of Belleville was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:55 p.m., according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

Chief Chester Borkowski of the Northwest Fire Protection District said the fire in the 1400 block of Sandalwood Drive was reported around 2:55 p.m. The house was in flames when firefighters arrived less than five minutes after it was reported, the chief said.

St. Clair County sheriff’s deputies were on the scene. Finnegan had been at the door trying to escape the fire in the single-wide modular home, and the deputies were able to pull him out, the chief said. Despite the deputies performing life-saving measures on Finnegan, he did not survive, Borkowski said.

The fire was contained within about three minutes after firefighters arrived, Borkowski said.

Firefighters from Signal Hill and Belleville assisted the Northwest Fire Protection District at the scene. Millstadt and Swansea fire departments provided coverage of the district while its firefighters fought the blaze.

This story was originally published July 13, 2023 at 6:43 PM.