# Hundreds evacuate Kent hotel in suspicious fire

> About 280 people were safely evacuated from the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone after a fire broke out in the basement early Saturday morning.
- Title: Hundreds evacuate Kent hotel in suspicious fire · the Guardian
- Summary: About 280 people were safely evacuated from the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone after a fire broke out in the basement early Saturday morning. A major fire…
- Keywords: grand burstin hotel, folkestone, kent, fire, evacuation, kent police, kent fire and rescue service, suspicious fire, hotel fire, news, world, Hundreds
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/19/hundreds-evacuated-fire-grand-burstin-hotel-folkestone-kent
- Published: 2026-09-19T17:21:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: grand burstin hotel, folkestone, kent, fire, evacuation, kent police, kent fire and rescue service, suspicious fire, hotel fire, news, world
## Fire forces 280 from seaside hotel
A large fire broke out just after 1am on Saturday at the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone, forcing about 280 people to evacuate safely. No injuries have been reported.

> About 280 people were taken to safety
## Fire believed to have started in basement
Emergency services were called just after 1am to the Grand Burstin, a 550-room hotel overlooking Folkestone harbour. The fire is believed to have started in the basement, though the cause remains unknown.

> It's believed the fire started in the basement of the property, but the cause is not yet known.
## Twenty-six fire engines respond
Kent fire and rescue service dispatched 26 fire engines to the seafront hotel. Crews wearing breathing apparatus worked to bring the fire under control and dampen down remaining hotspots.
## Police treat fire as suspicious
Kent police are treating the fire as suspicious and have launched an investigation. Detectives are seeking dashcam footage and asking witnesses to come forward.
## Council sets up welfare centre
Folkestone and Hythe district council set up a welfare centre at Three Hills Sports Park to support evacuees. The council advised nearby residents to close windows and doors and avoid the area.

> We are operating a welfare centre at Three Hills Sports Park for people being evacuated from the site
## Key takeaway

A major fire at a seaside hotel forced hundreds to evacuate safely with no injuries reported, and police are treating it as suspicious.