A major investigation is underway after a devastating fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, which forced nearly 300 guests to flee for their lives in the middle of the night, is now being treated by police as a deliberate act of arson.
The emergency began shortly before 1am, when a fire broke out in the basement of the 550-room hotel. The blaze triggered an immediate and large-scale response, with 26 fire engines and dozens of firefighters battling to bring the flames under control. As the situation escalated, guests described a scene of “madness” and terror.
Ross Honeycomb, a 39-year-old guest at the hotel, recounted the harrowing moment he was woken by the sound of alarms. “I thought I was dreaming; it was horrifying,” he said. “There was smoke billowing from the underground car park. Later we started hearing explosions. It has just been madness. I have been out barefoot all night.”
While firefighters worked to contain the fire, Folkestone and Hythe District Council acted quickly to set up a welfare centre to accommodate the displaced guests. Kent Fire and Rescue Service station manager Lawrence Pater noted that the fire was “very severe,” prompting structural engineers to assess the building to ensure it remains safe.
By this afternoon, authorities had confirmed that the incident is being treated as a criminal matter. While the fire service initially flagged the blaze as “suspicious,” Kent Police have since declared that, following their preliminary enquiries, they now believe the fire was caused deliberately.
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that one individual was transported to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries after being assessed at the scene. As of this evening, a reduced emergency presence remains at the hotel, including four fire engines, a height vehicle, and a technical rescue unit.
A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels Group issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident, confirming they are working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all guests and staff members impacted by the evacuation.
Kent Police are now appealing for the public’s help to track down those responsible. Detectives are urging anyone with information, or anyone who may have captured CCTV or dashcam footage of the vicinity between 10pm on Friday and 12.30am on Saturday, to come forward immediately.
As the site remains cordoned off, the investigation continues into how the basement blaze was ignited. For now, the local community remains on high alert as police work to piece together the events that led to the dangerous night at the popular seaside hotel.
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