BELLINGHAM — Many Roth Apartments tenants are staying at a local hotel on their landlord’s dime, after 41 residents were evacuated from the 117- year-old building Monday.

Property management notified city building and fire officials after a contractor pointed out serious weaknesses in main structural beams in the downtown Bellingham building’s basement.

Officials ordered the immediate evacuation of the 25 apartments, located at 1106 W. Holly St.

Bryan Beard, general manager at La Quinta Inn on Kellogg Road, said the apartment’s owners have rented 17 rooms at the hotel for displaced tenants.

Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Andy Day said property owners Parberry Inc. will be doing stabilization work for the next several days, but he had no estimate for completion.

Roth Apartments property manager Carol Kuljis did not return several phone calls Tuesday.

However, on Monday in a press release from the fire department, she said the owners were more concerned with helping the residents than worrying about the building.

Fire Chief Bill Boyd credited Kuljis with quick action to ensure the safety of tenants and find them places to stay.