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Homes evacuated over fire-damaged hotel safety fears

Police are treating the basement blaze as suspicious while the council relocates 90 residents and arranges hotel housing for evacuees.

  • On Saturday, a major basement fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone forced the evacuation of around 280 guests early morning. Crews remained on-site through Sunday monitoring for hotspots.
  • Kent Police are treating the fire as suspicious, urging witnesses with CCTV or dashcam footage from 10 p.m. Friday to 12:30 a.m. Saturday to contact them quoting reference 46/155727/26.
  • Folkestone and Hythe District Council evacuated 90 residents from nearby Pavilion Court on Saturday evening after safety inspectors feared the blaze's intensity had weakened the building's structure.
  • Support from the Salvation Army and Three Hills provided food and hot drinks for displaced guests and residents. The council is arranging alternative housing while the Grand Burstin undergoes safety assessments.
  • Britannia Hotels Group stated it is "fully cooperating with Kent Police and supporting their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire." The company remains in contact with authorities as enquiries continue.
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Kent Online broke the news in Kent, United Kingdom on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
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