Kent Police say the fire that forced around 280 people out of the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone may have been started deliberately, and detectives are asking for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage.
The fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone is being treated as suspicious, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service have said.
In an appeal published at 4.48pm on Saturday 19 September 2026, Kent Police said enquiries into the circumstances were under way and that officers “now believe the fire may have been caused deliberately”. No arrests have been announced.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said an investigation was under way to establish the cause, which it is also treating as suspicious. The service had earlier said it believed the fire started in the basement of the property.
What happened
Kent Fire and Rescue Service logged the incident at 1.06am on Saturday 19 September. Kent Police said it was called at around 1.20am to a report of a fire at a hotel in Marine Parade, and officers helped with traffic while crews worked at the scene.
At the height of the incident the fire service sent 26 fire engines and specialist units, including a height vehicle and a technical rescue unit, and crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service supported the response.
Around 280 people left the building and no fire-related injuries have been reported. Folkestone and Hythe District Council organised a rest centre, with support from the fire service’s Volunteer Response Team and The Salvation Army. Paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended.
Latest position
The number of fire engines at the scene fell through Saturday, to three and a height vehicle by 8.45pm and one by 7.30am on Sunday 20 September. In a final update at 11.30am on Sunday, the fire service said firefighting operations were complete and crews had left, although routine revisits will be made to check for hotspots.
Road closures remain in place. The fire service said people evacuated as a precaution from nearby Pavilion Court in Marine Terrace, because of structural concerns, are being supported by Folkestone and Hythe District Council. Guests of the Grand Burstin have been told to contact Britannia Hotels for further information.
Key information
- Witnesses and footage: Police want to hear from anyone who saw the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area, particularly from 10pm on Friday 18 September to 12.30am on Saturday 19 September 2026.
- Contact: Call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/155727/26. Footage can also be uploaded through the public portal linked from the Kent Police appeal.
- Anonymously: Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or its online form.
- Travel: Road closures remain around the hotel; check for the latest travel and diversion updates.