STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Bell Mountain Village in Bellevue has opened up its doors for residents displaced by a nursing home fire in Pocatello.

The Safe Haven care facility is offering some residents a temporary place to live following a massive fire that gutted Safe Haven’s care facility in Pocatello on Saturday.

The fire broke out about midnight Saturday, and the building was a total loss.

Officials say 49 residents were evacuated and transported to Portneuf Medical Center by ambulances and buses. Several were treated for smoke inhalation.

The time it took to evacuate residents—some of who can’t walk—delayed firefighters from being able to attack the fire. And that gave the fire time to grow.

The fire was still burning Saturday afternoon as crews had to wait until the membrane roof was finished burning to pour water onto the flames. Smoke from the fire is expected for several days. And firefighters estimate it will be a few days before they can investigate the cause.

Residents were also moved to Safe Haven Wendell in Health Care in Wendell and into relatives’ homes, where possible.

Safe Haven Health care provides assisted living centers in Boise, as well.