Massive fire guts Safe Haven Care Center in Pocatello - East Idaho News
Pocatello

Massive fire guts Safe Haven Care Center in Pocatello

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POCATELLO — A large fire destroyed the Safe Haven Care Center on Saturday morning — and the fire is still burning.

The fire was reported by a fire detection alarm at Safe Haven around 12:10 a.m. Saturday, according to the the Idaho State Journal. Firefighters arrived, saw smoke and Safe Haven staff members began evacuating patients to the parking lot.

All 47 of Safe Haven’s patients were evacuated from the facility when the fire started and were transported to Portneuf Medical Center via Pocatello Fire Department ambulances and city buses. Some individuals were treated for some inhalation.

Portneuf Medical Center spokesman Todd Blackington said the hospital used all available resources in preparing to treat any potential patients, but ultimately there were no injuries from the residents or staff of Safe Haven as a result of the fire.

“Our staff worked closely with the Safe Haven staff to care for their residents and make them comfortable with food and blankets while waiting for transportation to other facilities,” Blackington said in a news release. “The residents are currently at Portneuf but we expect them to be in new location by Saturday afternoon.”

As of 4 a.m. Saturday, dozens of firefighters from the Pocatello and Chubbuck fire departments were still battling the blaze at Safe Haven, located on the city’s east side, according to the Journal.

It’s unclear at this time what caused the fire.

Fire officials told the Idaho State Journal that the fire might not be fully extinguished until Sunday morning.

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