Britain19 September, 20263 min read
Kent Police Say Deliberately Caused Fire at Folkestone Grand Burstin Hotel Evacuated 280
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Fire at Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone began early hours, believed started in basement Police treating fire as suspicious and appealing for witnesses
9 outlets told this the same way.
Suspicious Folkestone blaze
A fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone led to about 280 people being evacuated, and Kent Police said the blaze was being treated as suspicious and that it was believed to have been caused deliberately. Kent Fire & Rescue Service said 26 fire engines were sent to the hotel at about 01:05 BST, and the fire service later said four, a height vehicle and the technical rescue unit remained in attendance with firefighting operations ongoing. Kent Police said, "Enquiries into the circumstances are under way," while a fire service spokesperson said, "An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, which is being treated as suspicious."
The BBC reported that Station manager Lawrence Pater said the "very severe" fire had raised concerns about the structural integrity of the building, and that Folkestone & Hythe District Council set up a welfare centre at the Three Hills Sports Park. The BBC also reported that South East Coast Ambulance Service assessed a number of people at the scene and that one person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Evacuation warnings and response
Folkestone & Hythe District Council warned residents to avoid the area after the hotel was evacuated, saying in a statement posted at around 5:30am that "A fire is currently ongoing at the Folkestone Grand Burstin Hotel." Kent Fire and Rescue Service said at the height of the incident control operators sent 26 fire engines and a height vehicle, and that crews wearing breathing apparatus were working to extinguish the fire. Kent Live said the fire was believed to have started in the basement of the property, while the BBC said the fire service chief described the building’s structural concerns and the council advised residents to close windows and doors.
A Kent Police spokesperson said officers were in attendance to assist traffic flow while firefighters tackled the blaze, and the BBC reported that Kent Police called officers to the hotel at about 01:20. The BBC quoted Britannia Hotels Group saying it was "taking immediate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all guests and team members" as emergency services remained on site.
Witness appeal and ongoing probe
Police appealed for witnesses and for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward, with Rayo quoting Kent Police saying, "Enquiries into the circumstances are underway and officers now believe the fire may have been caused deliberately." Rayo said Kent Police were called at around 1.20am on Saturday 19 September 2026 to a report of a fire at a hotel in Marine Parade, Folkestone, and that officers were in attendance to assist with traffic flow while Kent Fire and Rescue Service worked to fully extinguish the fire. Sky News said the blaze was brought under control by 8.30am but that nine engines were still damping down at the site, and it said Kent fire service believed the blaze started in the basement.
The Guardian reported that about 280 people were taken to safety and that no injuries had been reported, while it said detectives were seeking dashcam footage and asking witnesses to come forward. The Telegraph said Kent Police believed the fire may have been caused deliberately and noted that at its height 26 fire engines were tackling the fire at the 550-room hotel, with nine engines still at the scene at 3pm on Saturday.