Major Fire Evacuates Hundreds From Folkestone Seafront Hotel

A major fire broke out at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, Kent, in the early hours of Saturday, September 19, 2026, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of sleeping guests. Emergency services responded to the blaze at the iconic seafront hotel, with Kent Fire and Rescue Service deploying 26 fire engines at the height of the incident. The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the 14-story, 550-room hotel, though its exact cause remains unknown. Crews wearing breathing apparatus worked to extinguish the flames, with 15 fire engines and a height vehicle remaining at the scene later in the morning as firefighters continued to make progress. The building was fully evacuated, with one source stating 280 people were told to leave. Guests fled into the street in the early hours, some in pyjamas. An American guest, Jeff Gardner, reported hearing "a couple of explosions" and seeing smoke change from grey to black during the evacuation. He noted that over a hundred people had rushed out, with many left waiting for hours before being given somewhere to stay.