Residents Evacuated Near Folkestone's Grand Burstin Hotel Amid Structural Safety Fears

Residents living near a fire-damaged seaside hotel in Kent have been evacuated from their homes over concerns that the intensity of a basement blaze severely weakened the building's structure, according to local officials. The incident follows an extensive fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel located on Marine Parade in Folkestone, which broke out in the early hours of Saturday.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council reported that a total of 90 people were relocated from nearby Pavilion Court in Marine Terrace after safety inspectors raised structural concerns following the blaze. Meanwhile, Kent Police confirmed that the fire is currently being treated as suspicious and has launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward with information regarding the circumstances of the incident.

A council spokesperson stated that residents displaced from Pavilion Court have been provided with hotel accommodation within the town. The local authority is actively working to arrange alternative housing options for all affected residents while engineers and building inspectors continue their assessments and work to ensure the Grand Burstin Hotel property is made safe.

The Britannia Hotels Group, which operates the Grand Burstin, released a statement confirming that it is fully cooperating with Kent Police and supporting the ongoing investigation. The group expressed gratitude to emergency service personnel, noting that building inspectors and engineers are currently on-site conducting structural assessments while staff assist guests with immediate needs.

Kent Fire & Rescue Service reported that approximately 26 fire engines were dispatched to the seaside property at around 01:05 BST on Saturday. Fire officials indicated that the blaze is believed to have originated in the basement of the building. By Sunday, the active firefighting operation had concluded, and the scene was formally handed over to Kent Police.

Station manager Lawrence Pater described the incident as a "very severe" fire that raised immediate concerns regarding the structural integrity of the property, prompting the fire service to seek formal advice from inspectors. In response to the initial evacuation of hotel guests on Saturday, Folkestone & Hythe District Council established a welfare centre at the Three Hills Sports Park. Other local establishments, including The Harbour Inn pub, also opened their doors to assist those impacted by the emergency.

John Dighton, a 50-year-old resident evacuated from Pavilion Court, told the BBC that he was instructed to leave his flat at approximately 19:00 on Saturday. He described the uncertainty faced by residents, noting that they had packed belongings for a few days while staying at a nearby hotel across the road.

Guests staying at the hotel also recounted dramatic scenes from the night of the fire. Ross Honeycomb, a 39-year-old guest staying with his family, said they were awakened by alarms at around 01:00 BST and witnessed smoke billowing from the underground car park before hearing subsequent explosions. Another guest, 91-year-old Kevin Crawford, who was staying on the sixth floor with his 82-year-old wife Kathleen from London, said they initially believed the fire service had the situation under control and managed to sleep through much of the event.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council chief executive Susan Priest praised the community response, highlighting the support provided by organizations including Three Hills, Morrisons, and the Salvation Army in delivering food, hot drinks, and care to affected visitors and residents during what she described as an extremely difficult day.

Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the suspicious fire to contact Kent Police as the investigation and structural evaluations continue.