Fire Erupts at Hotel Previously Used to House Migrants
Guests evacuated from the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone as a major blaze, believed to have started in the basement, engulfed the building.
A significant fire broke out early Friday morning at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, a building that has previously been utilized to accommodate migrants. Guests were evacuated from the premises as firefighters responded to the blaze, which reportedly began around 2 a.m.
The fire is believed to have originated in the basement of the hotel, which is owned by Britannia Hotels and is situated on the seafront. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
A large-scale response was mobilized, with emergency services deploying a total of 26 fire engines and a height vehicle to the scene at its peak. Fifteen fire engines and the height vehicle remained in attendance as crews, many equipped with breathing apparatus, worked to extinguish the flames and make progress in controlling the fire.
A welfare center was organized in conjunction with Folkestone and Hythe District Council for those displaced by the evacuation. Kent Police were present to assist with traffic management, and the Kent Fire & Rescue Service's Volunteer Response Team provided support.
The Grand Burstin Hotel has a history of housing asylum seekers. In 2014, it accommodated approximately 130 asylum seekers to alleviate overcrowding in a London hotel. At the time, the Home Office stated the migrants would stay for no more than two weeks. Damian Collins, then the Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, expressed concerns about the decision, emphasizing the need for consultation and reassurance that the arrangement would be temporary. He also indicated that the government would cover the associated costs.
In 2019, the hotel again housed 59 asylum seekers as an emergency measure due to "extenuating circumstances," according to the Folkestone and Hythe council.