Kent hotel fire that forced hundreds to evacuate being treated as suspicious

A large fire that broke out overnight at a seaside hotel and forced hundreds of people to evacuate is being treated by police as suspicious.

Emergency services were called just after 1am on Saturday to the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone, where a fire is believed to have started in the basement, Kent fire and rescue service said.

About 280 people were taken to safety and Folkestone and Hythe district council set up a welfare centre.

No injuries relating to the fire have been reported and inquiries into the cause of the fire are under way. Detectives from Kent police are also seeking dashcam footage and asking witnesses to come forward.

Fire damage at the hotel. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures/Getty Images

Twenty-six fire engines were dispatched to the seafront hotel, the fire service said. According to the Britannia Hotels website, the Grand Burstin overlooks Folkestone’s harbour and has 550 rooms.

Folkestone and Hythe district council posted on X: “A fire is currently ongoing at the Folkestone Grand Burstin hotel.

“We are operating a welfare centre at Three Hills Sports Park for people being evacuated from the site, where we are providing support to those affected.

“We are supporting all emergency services involved in the response and their efforts to get people to safety.

“Our advice to residents living nearby is to: close all windows and doors; avoid the area and do not attempt to approach the hotel; follow the instructions of emergency services; keep roads clear to allow emergency vehicles to access the area.”

Kent fire and rescue service said in an update: “Ten fire engines remain at the scene of a fire at the Grand Burstin hotel in The Harbour, Folkestone.

“Crews wearing breathing apparatus have worked hard to bring the fire under control and are now dampening down any remaining hotspots.

“It’s believed the fire started in the basement of the property, but the cause is not yet known.

“Around 280 people evacuated the building, and a welfare centre has been organised by Folkestone and Hythe district council. No fire-related injuries have been reported.”

A spokesperson for Kent police said: “Kent police was called at around 1.20am on Saturday 19 September 2026 to reports of a fire at a hotel on Marine Parade, Folkestone.

“Officers remain in attendance to assist traffic flow while our Kent fire and rescue service colleagues work to tackle the fire.”